DEVIZES ended 2015 in mid-table in Southern Counties South as they slipped to defeat at the league leaders.

Travelling with a youthful squad, the Saddlebacks suffered a blow when Toby Randall had to withdraw in the warm-up after suffering a gash on his hand, Seb Hutchings stepping in to replace him.

Devizes opted to kick off with the wind behind them and throughout the first 40 minutes the match were evenly contested.

The visitors took the lead as Jorge Wadman managed to charge down a stray kick in the centres and nudge ahead with his foot, using some footballing skills to dive on the ball.

Devizes then lost Sam Jones to a shoulder injury, but their defence held firm until Norton reacted quickest to a mistake on the Devizes line to pounce for a try.

The visitors played smartly into the wind after the break, but gradually Norton turned the game in their favour.

From a move just inside the Norton half, the home forwards advanced and set the backs free for a well-worked long-range score, which was converted.

A penalty soon after stretched their advantage to 10 points, Devizes upped their game and continued to batter away without success.

Norton responded and, using the elements and Devizes' indiscipline, took advantage of a retreating visiting pack.

The home side first scored off a five metre scrum and then added a bonus-point score from a rolling maul.