MNRFC 3rd Team
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MNRFC 3rd Team
Captain - Ian Tiley Email: ian.tiley@hotmail.com Tel: 07765 053225 / 01761 437670
Vice Captain - To Be Confirmed Email: To Be Confirmed Tel: To Be Confirmed
Click here to view the 3rd team League results,fixtures and table
Match Reports
Read Archived Match Reports Here
2019-2020 Season
Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 44 – 0 Chard 3rd XV
22nd Feb 2020
The thirds had a comprehensive victory on Saturday, running out winners by 44 points to nil against visitors chard. The wet weather didn’t stop the home side playing some good rugby and this enabled them to run in 8 unanswered tries to secure the bonus point.
Centre Mike Evans was first on the scoresheet as he pounced on an interception and raced away for the first try of the game which he also converted.
The Norton pack competed well against a large visiting pack and with the wind at their backs this ensured Norton controlled territory. From a prolonged period of pressure close to the line the ball was fed to fly half Jon Swift who went through the gap to score.
As the half wore on Norton continued to dominate possession and this allowed prominent flanker Bean to add two further tries to secure the bonus point before half time.
In the closing stages of the half following a surging run from lock Tom Hillier back rower Ty Dallimore found himself in open space and went over to give the home side a commanding lead.
The second half saw Norton playing into the wind but this didn’t really stop their momentum. Chard had a few periods of pressure and territory but committed home defence kept them out.
In between Norton scored a further 3 tries, a brace for centre Kettle and a further try for flanker turned scrum half Dallimore. Fly half Swift added a further conversion to seal the win.
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Kingswood 26 – 20 Midsomer Norton 3rd XV
1st Feb 2020
The thirds were on the road again this week after their original opponents Huish Tigers were unable to raise a side. This saw them travel to Kingswood for the second time this season for what proved to be an excellent game of rugby between two well matched sides. Both teams scored 4 tries apiece but it was the hosts who just edged it with a couple of key conversions.
The Norton pack were bolstered by the return of man of the match Daren Hebbard who played his first full eighty minutes in 10 years.
The opening stages were dominated by Norton as the pack worked well around the fringes. From one such passage of play the ball was worked wide to allow winger Liam Shakespeare to dive over for the first try of the game.
Kingswood hit back soon after when they capitalised on a missed tackle to go the length and score. They added two further tries to put themselves in the driving seat before half time.
Norton hit back in the second half when flanker Dev Maggs powered over for a well taken try which was converted by full back Fraser Collins. The thirds pulled even closer when centre Chris Barlow cut an excellent line to finish off a prolonged period of pressure.
The hosts weren’t finished though and scored a good try after Norton missed an important tackle around the fringes.
It was Norton who had the final say as scrum half Ian Tiley was stopped just short but second row James Todd was on hand to pick up and go over for a well deserved try.
It was an enjoyable game made all the more enjoyable by an excellent referee who really entered into the friendly spirit of the contest.
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Oldfield 27 – 22 Midsomer Norton 3rds
25th Jan 2020
The thirds put in their best performance of the season on Saturday when they travelled to Bath for a friendly fixture against Oldfield. The game was played at a good pace with Norton dominating the early exchanges. This enabled them to score the first two tries as great support play ensured a plentiful supply of ball. Star man for Norton was number eight Will Edgell who weighed in with 2 tries as his strong carrying constantly kept the defence on the back foot.
Oldfield pulled a couple of tries back before but Norton had the final say of the half when full back Kieran Humphries went over out wide after some excellent interplay.
The second half saw Norton dominate territory but they were unable to make this dominance count. Hooker Mike Evans went over for a try but numerous other opportunities were missed and this allowed Oldfield to ring the changes and with fresh legs they managed to pull level before scoring with the last play of the game to take the win.
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Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 7 – 60 Chew Valley 3rd XV
18th Jan 2020
The thirds continued their season with a friendly against Chew Valley on Saturday. The game was played in good spirits with both sides playing a full part in a competitive first half. As the game wore on however Chew began to exploit the open spaces and ultimately ran out comfortable winners.
There was no sign of this later dominance in the first half in what was a very even affair. Chew always looked dangerous out wide but it was the Norton pack who had the majority of the possession.
The game started with Norton laying siege to the Chew line but some solid defence kept the hosts at bay and it was the visitors who profited when they seized on a loose pass and went the length of the field to open the scoring.
The visitors increased their lead with another try from distance when again they pounced on a Norton mistake.
Norton were not to be denied though and prop Will Rogers was soon on hand to capitalise from a number of effective pick and goes when he powered over from 5 metres out. The conversion was added by full-back Fraser Collins.
The second half saw Chew work the ball wide to their fast backs and on numerous occasions they breached the inexperienced Norton defence to earn a well deserved win.
Norton can be pleased with their first half performance and know they will need to tighten up their midfield defence in future weeks. The positives were the welcome return to action of veteran flanker Andrew Parker who had an excellent game. He was backed up by a number of younger members of the squad with Percy Francis and Dev Maggs worthy of particular mention.
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Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 19 - 31 Frome 3rd XV
7th Dec 2019
The thirds hosted local rivals Frome on Saturday for their first league meeting of the season. It was an entertaining game with both sides producing some good rugby but ultimately the bigger and more experienced Frome side won out against the more youthful Norton side.
The game was very much a game of two halves. Frome dominated the first period, playing down the slope, and scored 5 unanswered tries to put themselves into a commanding lead.
The second half saw Norton mount a spirited fight back. The pack began to dominate against the tiring hosts, and this allowed the fast and skilful Norton backs to come to the fore. Fly half Luke Williams grew into the game and ensured the ball was moved wide whenever he got the opportunity. This enabled strong running centre Kemar Stewart to score a well deserved try which was converted by Williams.
More good play from the backs set up field position and the Norton pack did the rest. Lock Tom Hillier was on hand on two occasions to power over from close range after prolonged periods of pressure. Scrum half Nathan Fear added one of the conversions to bring Norton back into contention.
Unfortunately a couple of half chances were missed and Frome deservedly hung on for the win that their first half performance deserved.
Next week the thirds host Huish Tigers in their last game before the Christmas break
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Cheddar 1st XV 49 – 3 Midsomer Norton 3rd XV
23rd Nov 2019
Despite the one-sided looking score line Midsomer Norton put in a brilliant performance on Saturday when they travelled to Cheddar Valley 2nd XV. The hosts side were bolstered by a large contingent of 1st team players after their game fell foul of the weather. This didn’t put Norton off though and they really took the game to their opposition. Such was their effort that they only trailed 5-0 at half time, before understandably falling away a little, late in the second half.
Norton’s full back Dean Evans made an excellent senior adult debut with a number of important tackles. He was backed up by some excellent play in the loose from flankers Ty Dallimore and Charlie Gumbleton. Lock Tom Hillier was his usual combative self and this helped Norton keep the hosts at bay.
Norton’s best attacking threat came from fly half Luke Williams who had a strong game, both in defence and attack. Several times Norton looked to open up the defence but were stopped just short. There was some reward for the visitors when Williams kicked a well-earned penalty in the second period.
The front row of Will Rogers, James Todd and Ronnel Tayag also deserve a mention after getting through a lot of work against a bigger opposition pack.
Norton are on the road again next week when they travel to Trowbridge in a Bath Combination friendly game
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Kingswood 2nds 29 v Midsomer Norton 3rds 22
16th Nov 2019
A very different looking Norton thirds travelled to Kingswood in a prearranged game to introduce the under 18s colts players into the senior game.
This transition game took half a dozen senior players and twelve colts from Norton to play a squad of six colts plus twenty two seniors from Kingswood in what was billed as a friendly fixture. Both teams put in 100% and turned out to be very competitive until the final whistle.
From the kick off the home team used their massive weight and size advantage to run at Norton, and looked set to score after five minutes, until Charlie Gumbleton set the tone for the match by cutting his opponent in half with a fantastic tackle near the try line. His much larger opponent was winded and looked totally shocked. Minutes later Charlie again tackled another monster, his opposite winger to thwart the move.
After 10 minutes Kingswood opened the scoring but hit the post with the conversion to take the lead.
Almost instantly Norton hit back and with old and young linking well it was uncle Tim Sheppard who made the space and popped the ball to his nephew Tom Wiltshire, who scored under the posts. Archie converting to take the lead.
Second row Swifty was next to go over the try line as he received an offload and sprinted in from ten metres out.
Two tries from the home team regained the lead for them going into the break.
Another family debut at the start of the second half for Nor as Deadly senior came on to play with his son and nephew in their first senior game for the club together.
Swift got his second try after some good Norton pressure, a good catch from Zack at the front of the lineout enabled Swift to join the driving maule and flop over the line.
A quiet 10 minutes from the visitors led to two more home tries, and what would of ended up a score line that didn’t reflect the tightness of the game.
But with ten colts on the pitch now and minutes left. Norton clawed a try back after good hands, saw winger Maclaclan touch down in the corner.
With one last roll of the dice, again the ball got spun wide, unfortunately being knocked on when it looked like the game was going to end up a draw.
A disappointing weekend results wise for the seniors but the commitment of all the young colts against much bigger men and the confidence shown by the backs in attack was a massive positive for the clubs future.
Thanks to all of them and the oldies too for a great days rugby.
Man of the match for Norton was no7 Zack Neilson
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Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 34- 22 Keynsham 3rd XV
12th Oct 2019
With all other matches falling foul of the weather it was left to the 3rds to entertain the massed crowds at Norton Down on Saturday. This they did as they put in a spirited performance to run out eventual winners in a hard fought game against local rivals Keynsham.
Things did not start well for Norton as Keynsham seized on two loose passages of play to race into an early 14 – 0 lead. Norton looked to have hit back from a well executed driving maul but the referee was unsighted and the chance was gone. It didn’t take long however for Norton to claw their way back into the game. From a lineout deep in their half the ball was swept wide and some neat interplay between the backs set up the opportunity for fly half Jon Swift to dummy and weave his way to the line. Full back Andrew Best added the extras. Norton moved closer still when scrum half Richard Slater pounced from close range, following some good driving work by the pack. The visitors responded by scoring out wide to extend their lead before Norton number eight Tyron Dallimore went over shortly before half time. This left the game evenly poised with Keynsham leading 19 points to 17.
The second half was tightly contested but as the game wore on Norton began to break loose. Early in the half Keynsham added a penalty to extend their lead before Norton hit back. Prop Will Edgell profited from some good prolonged periods of Norton pressure as twice he was on hand to power over for his brace of tries.
Replacement Scot Goddard nearly went the length but was just stopped short but his feat was emulated soon after when Colts winger Harry Smith did just that and raced away for a well taken try, which he converted to seal the win.
Both sides played some excellent rugby in the conditions. From a Norton point of view it was great to see Nick Higgs return to action after a long lay off with a knee ligament injury.
Next week see’s all 3 teams at home for the first time this season. The 1st team will be looking to get back to winning ways in Western Counties North against Old Bristolians, the 2nd team have what already looks like a crunch league game in Somerset 1 against Old Sulians and the 3rd team are home to Taunton in Somerset 3 South. All games kick off at 3pm.
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Martock 1st XV 12 – 28 Midsomer Norton 3rd XV
28th Sept 2019
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 next week.
