Norton entertained Coney Hill for the second time this year, as the visitors had travelled down for a pre-season friendly.

Playing down the slope, Norton started strongly, putting early pressure on the visitors 22m area, but Coney Hill were able to break the stranglehold and went the length of the field to score a converted try. Norton immediately went back on the offensive, and fly half Abbott changed the point of attack with a cross field kick, which winger Oakley collected and placed in the right-hand corner, levelling the score.

The Norton forwards were winning the tight battles, especially in the scrum, where they were really causing damage. This dominance allowed No. 8 Denning to power over from an advancing scrum, to put the home side into the lead, with Taylor adding the conversion.

With the return of Gimson and hooker Rose, last week’s problems in the line-out had been sorted out, and the team were able to disrupt the opposition’s possession. The home pack’s big runners took every opportunity to carry the ball, and after a series of drives, fly half Abbott was on-hand to collect a pass from Denning to score.

While Norton were resting on their laurels, Coney Hill replied straight away with a try. The forwards regained their dominance, and driving for the line, Coney Hill’s only option was to infringe to stop a try, and Norton were awarded a penalty try.

Coney Hill finished the first half strongly, with their very dangerous backs finally receiving some good attacking. Two tries were scored, with one being converted to bring the scores level (26-26) at the break.

Coney Hill started the second half as they finished the first, causing Norton’s defence problems, and were the first to score, regaining the lead for the first time since the opening minutes.

The Norton team seemed un-phased by being behind on the scoreboard, and continued to play with confidence, causing Coney Hill problems in both the forwards and backs.

The Coney Hill defence was being stretched but held fast, until after receiving a number of yellow cards for infringements, finally broke, and gave away their second penalty try of the game. This brought the scores level again, at 33 all. Shortly after this, the Norton supporters thought the team had retaken the lead, but the try was disallowed.

Coney Hill re-organised, and restarted by quickly scoring an unconverted try at the other end of the pitch through another fine attack from their back line.

Only needing a converted try to regain the lead, the home side set up camp on the visitors 22m line. Coney Hill were now back to full numbers, and required to contest the scrummage, an area where Norton had a clear advantage. Strangely, a sudden injury to a Coney Hill prop forced them to use uncontested scrums, again removing the clear home advantage.

As the game came to a close, Norton threw everything into attack. The ball was moved to the top touch, with both forwards and backs involved. After a few phases, the visitors defence was stretched, and the ball was carried back inside to the fly half channel, where Denning crashed over the line and managed to free himself from the defenders and get the ball to ground.

Fly half Taylor calmly slotted the conversion to win the game 40-38. The game had been a thoroughly entertaining match, with neither side’s supporters being confident of the win until the final whistle.