On Sunday 30th of April, Frome U15's had their final game of the season, versus Midsomer Norton RFC.

The local derby began with a bang, Number 8, Ewan Cox gathered the opening kick off and fed Archie Pearn in space. Pearn carried and passed wide to Toby Cassidy, who was tackled well into touch, in the Norton half. 

Norton attacked, but struggled to exit their half, with successive big tackles from Oscar Stickley, Rufus Phelps and Kieran Nutley. Second-row Sonnie Kerslake attacked with ball in hand, before off-loading to Stickley in support. 

Minutes later, from an attacking scrum, number 9, Alfie Newbery under pressure by the opposition flanker, flicked the ball from the back of the hand to Pearn. Pearn drew the defence and passed inside to Cassidy, who finished expertly at pace. Pearn hit the extra's to open up a 7-0 lead. 

Ten minutes into the first half, Norton again struggled to enter Frome's half. A tackle from Ben Llewellyn allowed Cassidy to turn the ball over. Frome camped in Norton's 22 for the next ten minutes and attempted to turn the screw. Centre's, Harrie Webster and Cassidy both attacked with speed and venom, both narrowly short of the try line in a successive minutes.

Following successive penalties the second breakthrough came. Newbery took a quick tap, Pearn unleashed the back-row. Cox and Phelps combined well and Cox crashed over from close range. With the extra's added, Frome held a 14 -0 lead. 

The half ended, when Cassidy gathered the kick off. He chipped, sprinted and re-gathered his own kick, before out pacing the on rushing backs, in front of a partisan home crowd. Frome led 19-0 at the break. 

After a number of changes at the break, the half started in tense fashion. After five minutes, Pearn orchestrated a strike move that put Zach Sibley into space. He drew two defenders and Liam Backhurst had the gas to beat the defenders for a great try. Frome led 24-0. 

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Next, prop Harry Millard gathered a loose ball and set off on a bulldozing run. This gave Frome a strong attacking platform. The scrum, dominant all day, offered an attack to Frome. Josh Clarke found himself in space and managed to offload to Rob Norris. Norris, was tackled narrowly into touch. From the next lineout, Stickley hit his mark and Aelfric Bidder scored from close range. The home side led 29-0. 

In the final moments, with emotion occasionally spilling over in this derby, after successive defensive turnovers Norton made it over the line from a penalty. 

The final score was a 29-5 win for Frome. A great game, to finish an excellent season.

(Frome are pictured in blue, black & grey)

Photos by Katie White