Norton welcomed Clevedon, who had been relegated last season, to Norton Down for the third game of the season. The visitors started quickly and within the first few minutes caught Norton napping with a cross kick, scoring a try in the corner, they were unable to add the conversion.
Norton soon got into their stride with some powerful runs from Jenner Denning and Fear. Chasing and catching a kick, Norton winger, Harper, was lucky not to be seriously injured in a tip tackle, the Clevedon player received a yellow card. The score was levelled when prop, Edgell, powered over in the corner. No 8, Butto,n took advantage of some strong forward play to extend the lead, Taylor had a relatively easy kick to add the extra points. Clevedon replied with a well-worked line-out move, scoring in the same corner. This score seemed to give Clevedon extra encouragement and they put Norton on the back foot for large periods of what was left in the half. Norton won a penalty at the scrum allowing them to clear their lines. The home side’s defence continued to hold firm, giving Norton a small half time lead, 12-10.
Norton now had the advantage of the slope and set about dominating the rest of the game.
Early pressure produced some chances, but they were left begging, and this let Clevedon eventually clear their lines, but this relief was short-lived. One catch and drive gained the home side 30m in territory before the visitors could stop it. All this constant pressure allowed J. Rose to score under the posts, Taylor added the extras.
As the half continued, all the fight seemed to drain out of the Clevedon side as they faced a Norton tidal wave of attack after attack, coming from both forwards and backs. Button was on hand to benefit from his team’s efforts and scored two further tries, completing his hat trick.
The game finished 33-10 in Norton’s favour. After the game the home supporters were left trying to think if, in the second half, had Clevedon had any possession in the Norton half? A great performance by the whole team, in both attack and defence. Next week the side travel to Gordano.
Steve Blackmore