Painswick maintain their winning start to the season

Norton 10

PAINSWICK maintained their winning start to the season with a hard fought win over a gritty Norton team, writes Richard Barnard.

The hosts made a dream start as they recycled the ball from the kick-off. Winger Neil Churchill cut through the home defence allowing flanker Olly Hall to score under the posts with Tom Powell adding the extras.

Norton came back strongly using their strong scrum to good effect allowing their number to power over for an unconverted try.

Playing with the slope, Painswick responded well and following a long period of pressure James Harber forced his way over in the corner with Powell adding an excellent conversion. Painswick kept up the tempo in the second when John Bevan touched down after a typical powerful burst. Norton fought back well, but some super defence from Painswick kept them to a single unconverted try and going home pointless. From being pushed back in the first few scrums the Painswick pack fought well to gain equality in this area; Callum Abbott dominated the lineout and Bevan and man-of-the-match Eti Millward were outstanding both in carrying the ball strongly and tackling.

Skipper Craig Mayo controlled the game from fly-half putting in some astute kicks and releasing his strong running backs well. Painswick next welcome Westbury-on-Severn to Broadham on October 20.