Midsomer Norton 1sts 18 Sherborne 8
A strong North wind was blowing across Norton Down and the team started the game playing downhill, but into this fierce wind. The visitors, Sherborne, started brightly, using the elements to help them gain territory advantage. Sherborne soon took an early three point lead when the home side were forced to give away a penalty defending their own line.
It soon became obvious how the visitors hoped to build a first half lead when they attempted a penalty kick from the half-way line, the home side set about playing in the opposition’s half and not giving penalties away. Upping their game, Norton soon had the visitors under pressure and were awarded a kickable penalty of their own, fly half, Abbott, stepped up to slot the ball over to level the score.
Strong running from forwards, Denning and Button, along with centres, Martin and Mitchard, kept Sherborne pinned back in their own half, with full back, Rowles, fielding and returning any ball kicked out of defence. Gaps started to show in the visitors’ defence and Norton extended their lead with tries from Button and Mitchard, ending the half with a 13–3 lead.
The home side started the second half intending to set siege on the Sherborne line, Abbott controlled field position with intelligent kicks, but the side found it hard to break the Sherborne defence. Wingers, Murphy and Holmwood, were able to show their attacking abilities, both making strong runs and Holmwod was unlucky not to have scored when the referee adjudged him to have knocked the ball on in the act of grounding it, having followed an Abbott kick through.
Both centres continued to show their power, with a second try from Mitchard and Martin, who, having found some open space, was unlucky to be hauled down just short of the line. With all of the home team committed to scoring the forth bonus point try, Sherborne managed to turn the ball over on their try line and broke out to score in the right hand corner at the other end of the pitch.
The Norton forwards dominated the game, but struggled throughout with the referee’s interpretation of laws, especially in the lineout. Despite the team being pleased to be back to their winning ways, they were disappointed not to have the bonus point try.