Stroud, having never visited Norton Down before, started the better of the two teams, putting pressure on the home side and taking an early lead with a penalty.
This score seemed to wake Norton up, who then took the game to the visitors, producing some good attacking ball. Centre Mattick was unlucky when he was beaten to the touch down by a Stroud player as he chased a kick through, while Mitchard celebrated his return to the First team with a try in the right-hand corner on the fifteen minute mark.
Stroud used the pitch and conditions well to keep playing in the Norton territory, and scored two tries – the second a penalty try when Norton was penalised for collapsing the scrummage.
With the penalty try now giving the automatic full seven points, the conversion is not taken. Scrum-half Martin took a quick kick-off catching the visitors unaware, the ball was killed illegally on the five-metre line by Stroud, stopping Norton from scoring. Surprisingly, after the decision a minute before, the referee only awarded a penalty rather than the penalty try. The score was 8-17 at the break.
Stroud started the second half with a flourish scoring a converted try, after only a few minutes of the new half. The home side were unlucky with some chances; Mitchard seemed to have beaten the defence but was forced into touch right on the try line, and Captain Fear, having beaten most of the defence, was unable to find his supporting player. Jamie Rose did score, closing the gap, before Stroud scored their fourth try which was easily the best one of the game, as they ran the Norton defence ragged before their right wing crossed in the corner.
As the game ran into the final few minutes, Norton threw everything into attack. A forward drive allowed Rose to collect his second try, but Taylor hit the bar with the conversion attempt.
This was too little too late, as Stroud ran out the winners, 18-29.