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MIDSOMER NORTON LIFE
Sports Round-Up I
t’s been an interesting time on the football front for Welton Rovers during the Autumn and Winter periods. The first team have struggled at times with consistency and at the time of writing find themselves four places above the bottom of the Toolstation Western League First Division. Manager Jared Greenhalgh left the club towards the end of January and the club are searching for a replacement who can revitalise and energize the team. Meanwhile the Reserves have had an outstanding season so far and sit proudly on top of the Somerset County Division East league. They only suffered their first defeat of the whole season, on the 1st February and if they maintain their excellent form promotion could well be on the cards. The Under 18’s continue to thrive under the guidance of Aaron Seviour and have had some notable results and it is pleasing to see the number of local youngsters all stepping up and having a go. On the Social side the club continues to thrive with skittles and functions a main stay of the club. Recently Quiz nights have been introduced on Fridays and a parents and children’s disco also. The Town Council sponsored monthly Social, held on the first Thursday of every month in the clubhouse continues to draw in the crowds for a great afternoon of entertainment. Up at Norton Down, the Midsomer Norton Rugby 1st Team find themselves in third position of the Tribute Western Counties North league, while having played one game less than the clubs either side of them. In the recent derby game against local rivals Winscombe, four colts represented the club in the
23-12 win. These players have helped the colts to win twelve of their sixteen fixtures this season. The 2nd Team, after a weak start, have now started to find their feet in their new league Tribute Somerset 1 and on Saturday beat Old Sulians, by a point, the team two places above them. The third team are mid table in Tribute Somerset 3 South but are struggling with the lack of league fixtures so are having to organise their own games against other local teams. The 3rd team continues to provide an important stepping stone for young players to move into adult rugby. At Midsomer Norton Cricket Club’s AGM the week before Christmas, members reflected on a cricket season which saw the club make important progress on and off the pitch. On the pitch, First XI skipper Martin Cox reported on the best placed finish, second place in WEPL Prem 2, since the creation of the WEPL pyramid. Winning nine in a row in the second half of the season left the club 13 points short of top spot after beating champions Taunton Deane in the last game of the season. Jake Rowe was the leading run scorer and Dan Chard the leading wicket-taker but the captain emphasised that success was due to teamwork.
