MATCH REPORT ???:
Saturday 13th January 2018: Norton RFC Vs Tetbury
New Year, new game, and another win for Norton. Norton looked fresh and ready for the 2nd half of the season, with hunger in their bellies, ready to get back to their winning ways.
Norton started the first half very well with good play and hard attacking lines, causing Tetbury to give a penalty for the tackler not rolling away. Unfortunately, the kick was not made, with the ball drifting slightly to the right of the posts. The score remained 0-0.
Tetbury restarted the game with a 22 drop out and Norton once again took the game straight back to them. With some great pressure and great supporting runs, Norton were awarded another plenty for a player entering the side of a ruck. Harvey Cooke did not make the mistake again and converted Norton’s first points. The score is now 3-0.
Norton did not stop there. As pressure was building from a good Tetbury defence, some quick thinking and fluent offloads to the supporting players, a gap appeared in the Tetbury line. With some electric pace and audacious side-stepping, 2 of Norton’s green army burst through to score a try down in Tetbury’s bottom right hand corner. The try was scored by Fly Half Henry Neill. Unfortunately, due to the mud being soft and wet, Harvey Cooke slip and missed the extra points. The score is now 8-0.
Yet again from the restart Norton’s foot was flat on the gas, with some good lines from the forwards breaking down Tetbury’s defence. After a hard thought battle, next to the try line Tetbury manged to turn over the ball to clear, but only to the 5-meter line. Norton didn’t let off. After a good catch and drive, Gareth Rogers came around the back like a wrecking ball bouncing off two defenders to cross the Tetbury line. Extra points missed. The score stands at 13-0.
Restart again and Tetbury meant business, they chase down the kick with high aggression and pace, take the game to Norton. With quicks hands and good lines Tetbury made ground but sadly knocked the ball on in Norton’s 22, Norton’s scrum! The scrum commences. The forwards push Tetbury back with power and aggression leading to a quick realise from scrum half Harvey Cooke, resulting in some precise and quick hands allowing winger Ben Ellis to power up the burners and score a try underneath the post from our very own 22!
Conversation was made and with that the half time whistle went. Half score 20-0.
Norton made one substitution at half time Second Row Graeme Stopp for Sam Gwilliam.
The second half gets under way. Both teams coming out fighting, with plenty of aggression and good displays of defensive structure and communications. This display of both attacking and defensive structure, with good discipline, goes on for the first 10-15 minutes until Tetbury gives away a plenty for a player coming into the side of a ruck. Norton decided to go for the posts and the kick was made. Score stands at 23-0.
Not long after the restart Winger Will Taylor took a tasty knock to the jaw resulting in a substitution where James Hanby went to Flanker and Ross Smith went to Outside Centre. The game continued. Tetbury once again putting pressure on the Norton defensive line, testing every aspect. Norton showing resilience turned the ball over and started a kick through which was chased down well as Tetbury caught the ball. Norton made the tackle just as support arrived to counter ruck the Tetbury defence, turning over the ball for Norton to utilise. With some strong running lines, our Kiwi (The Rat) burst through to cross the white line. The extra points where made. The score 30-0.
Substations were made, John (Badger) Crawford coming off at fall back and Graeme Stopp coming back on for the last 10 Minutes. He played on the wing and Ross Smith pushed back into full back.
Restart. Norton with loads of energy and pride still had their foots firmly on the gas for the last 10 minutes. With some excellent displays of discipline and team work showing that training does pay off. Another amazing display of quick hands leads to the ball being whipped around the outside for the previous try scorer, Kiwi (The Rat), to cross the Tetbury line once again. With no kicker on the field Graeme Stopp stepped up to the mark but sadly missed the extra points. The score stands at 35-0.
Last couple of minutes of the game and Tetbury where still causing really problems at the breakdown. They were in Norton’s 22, but unluckily for Tetbury, it was too little too late and the final whistle went resulting in the final score being 35-0.
For this game, Norton awarded 3 MoM’s. First overall MoM was Kiwi(The Rat) for an all round brilliant performance. Second MoM (forwards) was awarded to Elliott Cash for amazing play, breaking lines and being there at every breakdown. Third MoM (Backs) was award to Christy Hill for leading the back line in so may fantastic back moves and brilliant communication in the defensive line.
We would like to thank all the supporters that came down to watch Norton play at home. Your support does not go unrecognised. We would also like to say a big thank you to everyone at Tetbury for such a good game, all the best.