Midsomer Norton Rugby Club RFC 34 - 35 Nailsea & Backwell RFC
It was 5th versus 3rd at Norton on Saturday as the Ravens looked to try and start better than the reverse fixture where they found themselves 31-7 down before coming back to draw 31-31.
The Ravens had a very challenging week in the run up to the fixture with most of the side unable to train with illness. However, this group know the next man up will always give everything and that they did.
Norton landed a penalty but then Adam Grafton scored for the Ravens after a break from the outstanding Alex Jones who landed the conversion from out wide.
Norton responded well and scored three good tries through winger Kieron Humphries and Hugh Jeffrey. Nailsea faced a 24-7 deficit heading towards half time but Jones once again was the playmaker as he set up Ben Perfect who finished well and Jones landed another crucial conversion from out wide. This made the score 24-14 at the break.
Nailsea’s Prop, Jack McCormick gave his teammates a gee up at half time and they reacted straight away as Nick Badcock scored and Jones added the extras.
Norton responded with a try of their own through a good forward drive and Full Back Tom Rideout. At 29-21 then next score seemed crucial and it 18-year old Evan Williams on his second appearance for the First Team who scored after good carrying from Ryan Barrow.
Norton's star Centre, Hugh Jeffrey, responded straight from kick off but again with the conversion was missed.
With the score at 34-28 Nailsea knew that that a converted try could pinch an unlikely win. With time up, Nailsea were pick and going close to the Norton line but as Norton turned the ball over, they rolled the ball back to their own side, but crucially over the try line and Jack McCormick dived on it to score the winner. Jones added the extras to make it 34-35!!! What a finish!
