Norton started poorly, trying to get the journey out of their legs and quickly found themselves down by ten points before second row Moss crossed the line under the posts to reduce the deficit. Taylor added the extra points. The team’s forwards worked hard to change Norton’s fortunes, putting huge pressure on the home side in both the scrummage and lineout, winning a number of their ball.

Norton had a chance to level the score through a penalty, but Taylor just missed the kick. Okehampton worked their way down field and were awarded a penalty close to the line. They took a quick tap and scrum half Moon was adjudged to have obstructed the attacker from an offside position and received a yellow card.

The team now started to play with some fluidity, with their strong runners making ground and the ball available giving good attacking opportunities. Norton’s back row player, Sawkins, benefitted from this and dived over to gain Norton’s second try. The conversion was missed, but Taylor added a penalty to level the scores at half-time.

Some poor defending in the centre of the field after the break saw the home side score their fourth try. But a strong run from Tom Fear, shaking off tackles from three defenders, saw him cross the Okehampton line, adding Norton’s third try. The conversion by Taylor put Norton in the lead for the first time. At this point, it seemed that all the side had to do was play sensible rugby in the right part of the field.

Silly penalties at the breakdown and mistakes not clearing their lines, kicking the ball directly into touch, gave Okehampton easy attacking options. This allowed the home side to regain the lead, 23–22, through a penalty and then extend it to 31–22.

Now chasing the game to at least gain a losing bonus point, the team gave away an interception pass, giving Okehampton a free 80m run to the line. The scoreline does not do justice to the Norton team, who could have quite easily have had their first win of the season.