Midsomer Norton 27 Devizes 5
Norton welcomed Devizes to Silver Street to play their last home game before Christmas. The teams were greeted by a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch. Captain Fear decided to play into the elements and learn from last week’s game and keep the ball tight.
The forwards set about controlling the set piece with Gimson, Matthews and Fear confident on their own lineout ball and putting pressure on the opposition’s, stealing a few. The front row, Jenner, Fuller and Edgell, did their bit marching their opponents backwards in the scrum. Although most of the first half was played in the Devizes half, it was the visitors who opened the scoring. A Norton mistake, a Mitchard kick was charged down, the Devizes players reacted first and won the foot race to the line.
Strong running from both forwards and backs and some intelligent kicking pinned the visitors back making them defend for large periods. Full back, Rowles, had a busy afternoon fielding clearing kicks and running out of defence, one such attack looked as if he would run the length of the pitch to score, but was bundled into touch. This style of play led the home supporters into hoping for a score before half time. The team answered their wishes and put pressure on the Devizes lineout, five metres from their line, this allowed Button to pounce on a tapped ball leveling the scores at 5–5.
The second half saw Norton relentless in attack and dominated the half aided by the elements now in their favour. Second row Gimson continued to have a strong game running with the ball and after breaking the defence timed a perfect pass to the supporting Mitchard, who had the easiest of run ins to open the scoring in the second half.
Captain Fear scored the second try of the half from a pick and drive from a scrummage, he touched down at the base of the right hand post Abbot added the extra points. Flanker, Sawkins, added the bonus point try as he controlled a driving maul only having to touch the ball down as the rest of the pack forced him over the line, making the final score 27–5.