MIDSOMER NORTON 50 GORDANO 12

Following an excellent lunch, over fifty former MNRFC players mingled with the rest of the spectators to watch what they hoped would be a good game. What followed was an exhibition of exciting and entertaining fifteen-man rugby.

Norton started playing downhill with the wind on their backs, knowing they needed a good lead to take into the second half. This they achieved with four sparkling tries. To the amazement of the watching former players, all tries were scored by the Norton backs, including scores from Alex Mitchard, Joe Knight and two from full-back, Hugh Jeffery. At half-time, Norton had secured the try bonus-point.

Gordano now had the elements in their favour. However, Norton seemed to find another gear, and after only three minutes of the restart, Alex Mitchard cut through the Gordano midfield to score a fine try. Five minutes later, Gordano scored their first try, but any hope of a comeback was snuffed out with further Norton tries from Tom Clark and scrum-half, Luke Murphy – who is developing into a nine of the vintage of a number of the club legends watching the game.

Gordano scored again in the 75th minute. As the final whistle was in the referee’s mouth, Norton mounted one final surge, with the ball being passed through numerous pairs of hands, a move of some eighty yards, and ended up with Murphy touching down. He then added the extra two points to give Norton a well-deserved fifty points.

Although seven of the eight tries were scored by the backs, the platform for victory was built on the power and skill of the dominant pack of forwards. After four games played, Midsomer Norton sit on top of the League with a maximum twenty points. In contrast to the normal post-match former players’ discussions, the topic was not how good we were in the past, but how good these young players are in the present.

MARTOCK 12 MIDSOMER NORTON 3rds 28

The Thirds started their season in fine style on Saturday when they travelled to Martock for this rearranged League fixture. A new-look side saw the combination of youth and experience come together to record a well-deserved bonus-point win.

Norton dominated the first half, and some strong running saw centre, Watts, score two excellent early tries. One was all of his own making as he raced the length of the field. The other was set up by the experienced half-back partnership of Ian Tiley and Richard Slater. A quick tap caught the home defence sleeping, and a weaving run allowed the ball to be worked clear for the try. Both tries were converted by full-back, Harry Smith.

The back line continued to look dangerous every time they had the ball, and this ensured Norton kept on top for the

majority of the half. Martock hit back briefly when they had a period of prolonged possession, and they eventually used their larger pack to push over from close range, but Norton extended their lead in the 35th minute with a fine effort by winger, Fraser Collins, who raced over for a score. Smith again converted.

The second half was a more evenly contested affair, as Martock dominated possession. This didn’t stop Norton from further extending their lead, though, when Smith took the ball out wide and cut back against the grain to score a clinical debut try.

From then on it was a stout defensive effort from the visitors. Martock were repeatedly repelled before they managed their only try of the second half, when a series of Norton infringements saw them awarded a penalty try. The bonus-point win was an excellent start for the Thirds, who travel to Wincanton this weekend.