Norton will look back at this game and rue another slow start, as they allowed Bideford what looked like an unassailable 32–9 lead at half-time.

Early in the game the sides swopped penalties before Bideford took the lead with a converted try. The home side added a penalty on the thirty minute mark.

For the next ten minutes, the Bideford strong runners took advantage of some weak tackling, running from their own half, turning defence into attack, adding three more tries and two conversions to their tally.

The game seemed all but over at half-time but the home coach had other ideas, and in the half-time talk told the players how to nullify Bideford’s attack. Using the slope to the best advantage Norton played in the opposition territory and the pack started to dominate the set piece, although a few of the lineouts were a bit loose.

Norton started to chip away at the big points difference, flanker, Button, led the way as he forced his way over the line for the home side’s first try. Centres, Mitchard and Martin, began to receive some quicker ball and started to find holes in the visitors’ defence. The Captain, Denning, added another try from a driving scrum. Button and Gimson were held up over the line and Gimson dropped the ball on his way to the line on another occasion before he finally scored in the last minute of the game.

The team must learn to start faster – not giving their opposition a head start and to adapt quicker on the field, rather than wait for some guidance at half-time.