Midsomer Norton 19 Cleve 15

Midsomer Norton 1st XV beat Cleve in a tight battle that went to the bitter end. With three matches in play at Norton Down, it was a great day for the club as rugby also resumed for the Second and Third team.

It was clear from the start the intent from

Norton and Cleve as they both looked to use their strong forward packs to gain a foothold.

Cleve were first to cross the whitewash, a series of short pick-and-go drives saw the visitors gain a seven point lead early on.

Following a break from the halfway line, Norton Winger, Gregor Morgan, scored his first try for the First XV. After shooting down the wing, he cleverly kicked high in field only to link up with Rob Viol, who offloaded to put Morgan in space as he ran under the posts, 7–7. A penalty from Cleve took the score to 7–10 going into the break.

The second half started with Norton striking just moments after kick-off. The ball being handed down the line to James Fuller, who flicked a lovely out-the-back pass to

Rob Viol to slide in taking the score to 12–10.

Both sides made use of the catch and drive lineout and gained ground when doing so. From one lineout deep inside the Cleve 22, Norton number 8, Joe Button, patiently dotted down after a strong maul that came rolling over the line. Taylor added the

conversion taking the score to 19–10.

Cleve showed no sign of giving up, with five minutes of play left on the clock they shifted the ball wide in a last ditch

attempt to dive over the line only to be held up by Norton winger, Harry Smith, who capped another fine game with this defensive effort. The referee did not see a grounding, therefore rewarded a scrum to the visitors, however it was the Norton pack who overturned this scrum on their own five metre line to release the pressure.

A final attack in the last play of the game for the Norton boys saw them fail to gain the bonus point, but despite this, still a great win at home. Credit must go to Cleve, who played well throughout and almost clinched the result at the end of the game. Final score 19–15 to Midsomer Norton.

Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 24–22 Frome 3rd XV

The Thirds entertained Frome on Saturday in a hastily arranged friendly after both sides were let down by their league

opposition.

It proved to be a very evenly matched contest as both sides scored four tries in what was a great advert for third team rugby. Ultimately it was the accuracy of the Norton goal kickers which proved decisive as they added two conversions to Frome’s one.

Norton stormed into an early lead as their back line revelled in the open spaces. The centre partnership of Chris Barlow and Finlay Shakespeare combined well to score two early tries, with full back, Paul Comber, adding one conversion.

Frome gradually fought their way back into the game, and scored twice before half time to draw level.

The second half mirrored the first, with Norton again pulling two tries clear. Number eight, Lee Taylor, powered over from close range and Comber went over out wide. Winger Fraser Collins capped a fine game with the clinching conversion.

Frome fought back with two tries of their own, but were unable to convert which saw Norton hold out for a well-earned victory.

This Saturday the Thirds are on the road when they travel to Tor, 3 pm kick-off.

Steve Blackmore