Norton pay for late lapse

Nailsea & Backwell 1st XV 30 Midsomer Norton 1st XV 26

Midsomer Norton were left kicking themselves after letting this league game get away from them in the closing stages.

Nailsea and Backwell had to fight hard to repel probing raids by Finn McDermott and the returning Steve Forse early on before taking advantage of weak tackling by the visitors to score the opening try through their elusive winger.

A penalty extended the home side's lead and Nailsea went even further ahead from the final play of the first half, with Norton losing possession deep inside the hosts' half and then missing more crucial tackles as a try was scored under the posts.

The second half began with Norton straight into their stride as Adam Sinden pinned Nailsea in their own half. Norton's forwards drove to the hosts' line and David Sawkins emerged with the ball to claim the try. Ben Moon hit the upright with the conversion.

Norton stayed on the front foot and Moon set up Denning to rip open the Nailsea defence and take Norton to within a score, following Moon's conversion.

A pair of penalties kept Norton in the ascendancy and the momentum was maintained when Gareth Williams burrowed over a for a try to set up an exciting final ten minutes. As the visitors continued to dominate the scrums, Denning then picked up and drove towards the tryline and Frazer Button cut a straight line and shrugged off three attempting tackles to score under the posts. Moon had the easiest of conversions.

Foolishly thinking their work was done, Norton relaxed from the restart and gifted Nailsea a penalty and then an attacking lineout. From the ensuing ruck, the Nailsea flanker picked up and evaded the covering defenders to touch down. The fly-half added the extras to confirm the hosts' victory.

Norton will have to raise themselves for the visit to league leaders Avon this weekend.

Midsomer Norton 2nd XV 19 Bridgwater 2nd XV 27

Norton seconds pushed Bridgwater hard in an entertaining game and at least improved on the heavy defeat suffered in the corresponding away fixture.

The star man for Norton was centre Jamie Verden, who scored a fine try from his own half as well as running and tackling well.

The Norton pack were dominant throughout but, ironically, this proved to be their downfall as Bridgwater, under immense pressure, twice pounced for tries after the ball squirted away from scrums.

Norton fought back with tries for winger Henry Hunter and lock Jamie Gimson but Bridgwater sealed the game with two further tries out wide after creating the overlap.

In the closing stages, Norton were denied a bonus point by a high tackle on the rampaging Verden, which might have led to the award of a penalty try as he seemed to have the line at his mercy.

Norton travel to second-placed Keynsham on Saturday.

Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 48 Old Edwardians 1st XV 29

Norton thirds came on strongly in the closing stages to seal victory against an Old Edwardians side who had also been on a good run.

The first part of a scrappy opening half was notable for tries from Norton's Grant Silk and Tim Chivers, with Danny Dyer booting one conversion. Old Eds added a couple of scores of their own but also conceded an interception touchdown to Norton centre Ed Cook which was converted by Dyer.

The final significant action of the half saw Ciaran Moore beat the opposition full-back to a kick over the top and, with the luck of the bounce, go over the line to score. Dyer converted.

A brace of Old Eds tries early in the second period made matters interesting but Norton kept up the pressure and won a penalty which was kicked by Dyer. Quick hands allowed Dave Watts to cross in the corner and, a few minutes later, he repeated the feat after some loose play by the visitors. Late on, a huge gap opened for Will Edgell to cross the line, while Dyer added two conversions.

Norton have two weeks off before a top-of-the-table clash with Old Reds.