After a week of discussions on whether to honour this weekend’s Somerset Cup match against higher placed Bridgwater, common sense prevailed, and Norton travelled with a mixed squad of players, some with no First team experience at all.

Starting well, early pressure nearly brought Norton the first points, but prop Edgell was stopped short.

Bridgwater recovered from this shock and responded, getting on the score board first, profiting from a break in midfield, but Norton quickly responded with score of their own. Rose benefitted from a catch and drive at a lineout close to the line, to dot the ball down. Rideout converted, levelling the score at 7-7. Norton by now had taken complete dominance in the scrummage, driving the home pack backwards and seemingly winning the ball against the head at will.

Bridgwater scored a second converted try before, back-row Button playing in a slightly different position than normal, number eight, forced his way over the line, closing the gap to 14-12.

As the half came to a close Norton was under a huge amount of pressure with Bridgwater camped on their try line. In one defensive stint, second row Knight suffered a knee injury and was forced to leave the field. When the whistle blew for the break, the score was 26-12.

Following the half-time break Bridgwater struck quickly, scoring three tries taking the game away from Norton. This did not mean that Norton gave up the fight, far from it, they tightened up the game and controlled position and possession for the next twenty minutes. The forward power kept Bridgwater under the cosh with numerous scrummages close to the line. Although Norton were awarded penalty after penalty, the referee did not take things further. Norton only managed one score in the half, with Schuster collecting a try.

The score line finished 61-17 in the home side’s favour, but the Norton coach should be pleased as he had the opportunity to see the abilities, under pressure, of some of the players not normally in the First team squad. Every one of these players stepped up to the plate and did the club proud, they should all take confidence from their performances against high opposition.

Steve Blackmore