As the end of the season arrived, Norton played their last two games with mixed outcomes. Safely above the relegation zone, the team showed their skill and patience in Saturday’s comeback against Yatton.

WINSCOMBE 37 MIDSOMER NORTON 20

On Wednesday evening,

Norton travelled over the Mendips to Winscombe for this rearranged league fixture, having been forced by the South West Competitions Committee to play mid-week under lights.

As in recent weeks, Norton started slowly, allowing Winscombe to score first and build up a ten-point lead, before Taylor slotted a penalty for Norton’s first points.

It was obvious that the game meant a lot more to the home side, who needed a bonus point win to make them safe in the league, whereas Norton were comfortably clear of any relegation battles.

Norton allowed Winscombe to score three tries before crossing the line for a score of their own. The half ended 22–8 in Winscombe’s favour.

Norton were slow to start the second half, as they had been in the first, and this allowed Winscombe to score their fourth try. This seemed to kick start some of the Norton players, who, led by Button, carried the ball hard into their opposition, making Winscombe defend for the first time in the game.

Unfortunately, the home side knew their pitch well, and used the slope, putting boot to ball to clear their lines and keep Norton pegged back in their own half.

Scrum-half, Schuster, tried to pick up the pace of Norton’s game by making a break up the middle of the pitch – this allowed Martin to score the team’s second try of the night.

Rose scored Norton’s third try, which was converted by Taylor, bringing the score to 27–20. Winscombe increased their efforts and scored a penalty goal and a converted try to end winners, 37–20.

Norton need to look back on games like this to improve their game management for next season.

YATTON 31 MIDSOMER NORTON 38

On Saturday, Norton travelled to Yatton to play their last game of the season.

Norton started the game slowly, letting the home side score two early converted tries. Still only minutes into the game, Norton’s problems were increased when winger, Herrin, had to leave the field with an injury.

Although the Norton forwards, Jenner, Fear, Denning and Rose carried the ball well into the home side, small handling errors and missed tackles allowed Yatton to build up a convincing lead.

Norton’s reorganised backline of Martin, Mattick and Mitchard worked hard to stem the flow, but the Yatton back three always seemed to have an extra man in attack, and racked up a 26-point lead. The Norton pack was made to work hard in the tight, but the front row of Bicknell, Rose and Jenner were up to the task.

Norton were awarded a line-out close to the Yatton line. Fear won the ball, which was fed to flanker, Button, who scored under the posts to collect Norton’s first points; Taylor converted. Poor defence again allowed Yatton to score to get a 24-point lead, the score 31–7 at half-time.

Yatton continued to pressurise straight after the break, but the Norton team seemed to come alive and want to finish the season on a high. They tightened up the defence, with S. Knight tying up the dangerous Yatton winger, and stopped the small handling errors.

Prop, Jenner, led the way, carrying the ball out of defence up to half-way, giving the team forward momentum. As the move progressed, Martin was on hand to finish it off and take the points, and Taylor added the extras.

Clark and Schuster joined in the attacks from deep, and from one, the ball was recycled, and Denning was on-hand to crash over to score. Again, Taylor added the extra points.

Sawkins, having changed position, moving up into hooker from the second row, collected the team’s fourth try, and yet again, Taylor added the conversion. By now, replacements J. Knight and Herbert were on the field, adding fresh legs and energy to the game, and the team – whose fitness has been questioned – were looking much fresher of the two sides.

Martin scored his second try to give Norton the lead, and Taylor added the extra points, taking Norton four points clear. Taylor then extended their lead to seven points from a penalty goal.

All Norton had to do now was to collect the ball from the restart and retain possession for the last few minutes. This they did, and Abbott was able to kick the ball off the pitch to win the half and the last game of the season.