Saturday saw Frome travel to Norton Down for the return league fixture and to complete the second part of the Somerset Standard Cup clash. Both teams now compete in the Southern Counties South League, this is played for over two games, with the club having the best aggregate score taking the silverware. Following the early season win, Norton took a 72 point lead into this competition, but were fully aware of Frome’s recent form.
Frome put Norton under pressure right from the kickoff, having turned over the first ruck of the game.
During the next few phases of the match, Frome had Norton defending on their own line, but Frome were unable to capitalise and the home side cleared the lines.
Norton then took control of the game, scoring two tries in the first fifteen minutes from sweeping attacks, which showcased their strong running backs. Mitchard, running from deep, carried the ball up to the half-way line, before freeing Luke Murphy on the left wing to score in the corner. Full-back, Jack Rowles, was unlucky as he was halted just short of the line after a long run.
A second try soon followed with the team showing some great Harlem off-loading skills and support play to allow fly-half Abbott to score near the top touch.
For the next twenty minutes, Frome set up camp in the Norton half, putting pressure on the try line, but the home defence dug deep and was up to the task. They deprived Frome of a score with strong tackling and good organisation and held the ball up on a number of occasions after Frome crossed the line.
Surviving this onslaught, Norton scored a third try just before half-time, with winger, Jason Homewood, touching down in the right hand corner.
Now playing with the added advantage of the slope, the forwards took control of the set piece and controlled field position. Tries started to flow with the team scoring six more, Mitchard, Gimson, Sawkins and Button adding their names to the scoresheet with Murphy and Holmewood collecting their second. The team stays second in the league, but with a game in hand they retained the Somerset Standard Cup with an aggregate score of 117–0.