Midsomer Norton Seconds 29 Wellington Seconds 13

Midsomer Norton Seconds started the New Year in style, putting in a good performance to beat a strong Wellington side. The first half was a scrappy affair, with Norton strong in defence but mis-firing with ball in hand.

Wellington were first to score with a penalty in front of the posts before Button capitalised on a strong Norton maul to stretch over for the first try of the afternoon. Wellington hit back with a try of their own before Denning, playing out of position in the back-row, scored a long distance pick and go from a consistently superior Norton scrum.

The beginning of the second half saw the sides trading penalties, with Rideout proving very successful with the boot throughout, both from hand and tee. Rose then finished off a good phase of attacking play, using his strength to power over from close distance without needing the three men outside him. Norton now began to assert their dominance in both defence and attack, with Wellington finding no weak shoulders in the Norton line and finding it hard to win ball against Norton’s dominant line-out and scrum. Norton’s sharp defence across the pitch soon led to a wayward Wellington pass which Packer hacked ahead, marginally winning the subsequent race to the line to secure Norton’s bonus point try.

Norton will be happy with their good, all round performance despite a sluggish start, and will look to take it into this week’s derby, Away at Keynsham.