MIDSOMER NORTON 3rds 34 KEYNSHAM 3rds 22

With all other matches falling foul of the weather, it was left to the Thirds to entertain the massed crowds at Norton Down on Saturday.

Entertain, they did, as the Thirds put in a spirited performance to run out eventual winners in a hard-fought game against local rivals, Keynsham.

Things did not start well for Norton, as Keynsham seized on two loose passages of play to race into an early 14-0 lead. Norton looked to have hit back from a well-executed driving maul, but the referee was unsighted and the chance was gone.

It didn’t take long, however, for Norton to claw their way back into the game. From a lineout deep in their half, the ball was swept wide, and some neat interplay between the backs set up the opportunity for fly-half, Jon Swift, to dummy and weave his way to the line. Full-back, Andrew Best, added the extras.

Norton moved closer still when scrum-half, Richard Slater, pounced from close-range, following some good driving work by the pack. The visitors responded by scoring out wide to extend their lead before Norton number eight, Tyron Dallimore, went over shortly before half-time. This left the game evenly poised, with Keynsham leading 19 points to 17.

The second half was tightly-contested, but as the game wore on, Norton began to break loose. Early in the half, Keynsham added a penalty to extend their lead before Norton hit back. Prop, Will Edgell, profited from some good prolonged periods of Norton pressure as twice he was on-hand to power over for his brace of tries.

Replacement, Scott Goddard, nearly went the length but was just stopped short, though his feat was emulated soon after when Colts winger, Harry Smith, did just that and raced away for a well-taken try, which he converted to seal the win.

Both sides played some excellent rugby in the conditions. From a Norton point of view, it was great to see Nick Higgs return to action after a long lay-off with a knee

ligament injury.

This weekend sees all three teams at home for the first time this season. The First Team will be looking to get back to winning ways in Western Counties North against Old Bristolians; the Second Team have what already looks like a crunchy League game in Somerset 1 against Old Sulians and the Third Team are home to Taunton in Somerset 3 South. All games kick off at 3 p.m.

Steve Blackmore