Chapman stars in seven try romp

Lowestoft & Yarmouth 41, Saffron Walden 21: L&Y bounced back from a below-par performance in the Intermediate Cup with a dominant seven-try display.

Coach Scott Nelson asked for a more committed and intense performance before the game and was pleased with his players' response.

In the first half L&Y had close to 90pc of possession and used it to rack up a bonus point lead by the break. In 40 minutes of total control the ball was flying around all over the park and the hosts did well to restrict L&Y to only the four scores.

Man-of-the-match Russ Chapman had his best game of the season at scrum-half, and it was his break which led to Dave Tiueti unloading for Myles McAlone to score first. Tiueti had the kicking tee for the day and missed the first conversion but added three later in the game.

The second try came when Nelson found Chris Howe on his shoulder and the mobile prop bundled over the line. Nelson got the first of his brace next when a blind side move off a scrum gave him the room to cut back through a gaping hole in the defence.

Walden then pulled one back before L&Y won a scrum against the head inside their half, Thomas picked and went blind and Chapman surged into the corner.

After the break Walden reduced the lead to 10 points with another try before Russ Wilkinson managed to dive over for the hosts' fifth.

Waldon replied with their third converted try in the corner and for all L&Y's dominance they were only eight points ahead. But they gathered themselves and killed off the match with two more tries in the closing 10 minutes.

First Nelson got his second after some powerful play and then young Dan Boardley wrapped it up.