Norton travelled to Frome, not only to play their third league game of the season, but also the first game in the two part competition for the Standard Cup. Again, the weather was perfect for an open game of running rugby, but this week, the team were determined to do the hard work first before trying to spin the ball wide.
Norton were soon on the scoreboard when Richard Martin burst through the home defence to score under the posts and Ben Taylor added the conversion. The next period proved difficult for Norton, as they incurred the wrath of the referee for numerous perceived infringements, but their defence held firm. Slowly, the pack took control of the game, which allowed Norton to play inside the Frome half, tries quickly came through centre, Alex Mitchard and back row players, Denning and Button.
Button’s try came from an initial Mitchard break, the ball was quickly recycled to fly half, Moon, who nearly made the line, but was able to offload in the tackle. The flanker was only a couple of metres short of the line when he received the ball, this allowed him to crash over the line, scoring under the posts.
Towards the end of the first half, both wingers got into the game and onto the scoreboard. Louie Dyer showed his pace, outstripping the Frome defence to score on the right wing, Ben Taylor adding the conversion. Ross Miller then rounded the defence on his wing and ended the half, scoring Norton’s sixth try with the score at 36–0.
At half-time, the talk was not just of attacking play, but also of discipline and defence, with an objective set of keeping the Frome score at zero. Norton started the second half at the same pace theyfinished the first and were straight on the attack. A training ground line-out move saw their Captain burst through the defence, but he was unable to make the line. The move kept going when he offloaded to support player, second row Jamie Rose who scored the first try of the second half.
The visitors increased their work rate, giving the home side no respite. Hard work was put in all round the park, with the pack now in complete control. Props, Edgell and Jenner, dominated their opposite numbers in the scrummage and the other six forwards competed for the ball at every opportunity.
The tries kept coming with winger, Miller and number 8, Denning, adding their second. Centre, Mitchard, added two more, completing his hat trick. Louie Dyer scored the final try of the day, taking the score to 70–0. Ben Taylor added the conversion, making the final score 72–0. The Norton team were pleased to have won the game, playing controlled rugby in attack and defence and moved into second place in the league.