If the league leaders came to Norwich thinking that a visit to Beeston Hyrne was going to be a pushover they were in for a rude shock.

Norwich produced the best 40 minutes of their season so far in the first half of an intriguing contest.

They opened the scoring with a superb try after three minutes which saw centre Michael Lawton go over under the posts, with Theo Elliott adding the conversion.

Norwich were well aware of the threat that their visitors posed and were prepared for the rapid response. Despite some tremendous defence Rochford got on the scoreboard after some 18 minutes when having kicked a penalty into the corner they scored a try from the ensuing lineout when left wing Mitchell Bennett went over in the corner. Matthew Stewart could not manage the conversion.

Norwich had the better of the play, dominating possession and harrying their opponents into mistakes which it was obvious after one flare-up that they were not used to making. The hosts were rewarded with a penalty which Elliott coolly slotted from some 40 metres to give his side a half-time lead of 10-5.

Rochford started the second half in a manner which was not in the Norwich script and scored after three minutes with a try from flanker Stuart Whatling which Stewart duly converted. This was followed by a further score from second row Luke Court-Rhiand when the Norwich defence, which had been so sound in the first half, was found sadly lacking.

Norwich began to make handling errors which in the first half they had not been doing and Rochford scored a further try through winger Sam Edwards which was converted with a great kick from Stewart. As the game entered the last quarter it looked as though Norwich might be overwhelmed but that was not the case. They continued to take the game to their opponents and were rewarded when some great movement from the backs put Rob Micklethwaite over in the corner for a well worked try which was not converted.

Norwich finished the game pressing forward in the hope of getting a losing bonus point but it was not to be as the whistle went to close one of the best games this year at Beeston Hyrne.