Saturday was Norton’s last game before Christmas and the first return fixture of the season. The team had lost by five points at Old Richians in September, and were looking to reverse that result.

After a false start, the kick-off not going ten metres, the home side showed their forward power in the resulting scrummage; driving the opposition back some twenty metres. This power gave the team a good platform to set up good attacking positions, with winger, Oakley, the first to benefit and then centre, Jeffery, as Norton took a 12–0 early lead.

The visitors slowly got into their stride, with some big runners of their own, a missed tackle in the home twenty-two metre area allowed Old Richians to get back into the game, closing the gap with a converted try. Now in the game, the visitors had a good period of pressure forcing Norton to defend, an infringement at a breakdown allowed the visitors three points, but nothing else.

Old Richians took the lead for the first time, when the visitors’ left winger received the ball in his own half and weaved his way through the defence to score a converted try, taking the lead to 12–17. Norton responded with a catch and drive at the lineout, regaining the lead 19–17. Old Richians made the most of the elements and regained the lead just before half-time with another unconverted try, taking a three-point advantage into the break.

Now playing down the slope and with the wind behind them, the home side aimed to repeat last week’s second half performance, when they controlled field position; this they did again for most of the forty minutes.

Forwards Clark and Button both collected tries, giving Norton a seven-point lead. Now chasing the game, Old Richians were forced to bring on their ex-Gloucester and Samoa player, Terry Fanolua, to organise the attack, but the home defence was up to the task, repelling all comers.

This was the second really good performance in a row and the result allows the team to leap frog Old Richians in the league.

Norton’s next league fixture is away to league leaders, Coney Hill, on 6th January 2018. There is still rugby at the club over the Christmas period, with the annual President’s versus Chairman’s match on Boxing Day and the club playing ‘Hibbard’s Heroes’ on 30th December.