Chard started the game the quicker of the two teams and caught Norton cold, spinning the ball out wide for their winger to cross the line under the posts. The home side quickly extended their lead with a penalty goal. Norton’s problems were compounded when centre, Anderson, had to leave the field with an injury – he was replaced by Walkes.
Norton struggled to clear their lines with kicks not hitting touch, allowing Chard to run the ball back at the Norton defence. The Norton forwards started to get into their stride with the back row of Clark, Button and Denning, controlling the physical battle at the breakdown, this gave the team good field position. From one attack into the Chard 22, back row player, Button, crossed the line to score under the posts.
As the game heated up, the referee awarded double yellow cards, which saw Gimson joining a Chard player in the bin for ten minutes. Button collected his second try and with the conversion completed, Norton took the lead for the first time.
The home side, stung by this score, responded quickly, regaining the lead as the half ended with a converted try of their own. Encouraged by the score at the end of the first half, the side started the second half as they did the first and extended their lead to 24–14.
Young players, Mitch Rose, Church and Connor Schuster were having fine games and with Goddard joining them from the bench, it showed that they will be a good supply of First Team players for the future. Fly half, Abbott, kept the side going forward, releasing the strong runners, Holmewood, Jeffry and Murphy outside him.
A continued period of pressure on the Chard line resulted in Chard having to infringe at a number of scrummages. This forced the referee to award a penalty try, closing the gap to three points, 24–21. Credit for this score must be given to Norton’s ever present props, Edgell and Jenner, who have stood up to all opposition in the league. An injury to flanker, Clark, allowed Jamie Rose to join his younger brother in the pack.
As the game came to a close, Chard were able to score two long range penalties to take any chance of a win away from Norton.
Disappointedly, this result ensures that Norton will be relegated at the end of the season but, all of the club and the whole of Midsomer Norton should be proud of their team. Praise must be given to the junior coaches who helped develop these home-grown players, allowing the club to have reached this level without resorting to importing players from overseas or paying players, as other teams are doing in this league.