Norton defence help secure Chard win - Midsomer Norton RFC firsts 13 Chard 7

Norton started this bottom of the table clash briskly, putting pressure on their opponent’s line, and Taylor kicked a penalty to take the lead after five minutes. With Tom Fear ruling the line out and the pack slowly taking control of the scrummage, Norton seemed to be in control – but they did everything but extend their lead.

Chard managed to break out of the stranglehold with a fine attack, catching the home side off guard. Moving the ball wide quickly, a scissors move broke the defensive line and a Chard centre crossed the line to score under the posts, the conversion added. Shortly after, Norton’s injury woes increased when experienced centre, Rowles, had to leave the field with a serious facial injury, resulting in two fractures to the cheekbone and eye socket.

A tense first half ended with the visitors having a slim 7–3 lead.

As Chard tried to use the slope to their advantage, full back, Jason Holmwood, continued his fine first half form, running any ball back at them and always making metres. This allowed the home forwards to secure the ball and carry on the attack.

Securing some quick ball, the backs were released up the right hand wing and just as it looked like they would score in the corner, the ball was fed back inside to the support. Prop, Edgell, was on hand to cross the line and score under the posts, Taylor added the extras.

Halfway through the second half, the game was reduced to uncontested scrums when Chard were unable to field a fully fit front row. This negated the scrum advantage that the home pack had built up throughout the game.

As Norton fly half, Taylor, extended the lead with a second penalty, this gave the home side a bit of breathing space, but the scores were still within a converted try.

Although the home side had little of the ball for the last fifteen minutes of the game, they defended the Chard twenty-two metre line, refusing to let the visitors have any space to play in. This defence finally won the game for Norton as Chard were unable to add any more points and the game ended 13–7.