The recovery continues apace at Dereham Rugby Club, following a difficult start to the season.

The Greene King IPA Eastern Counties Two North side were in danger of folding for the second time in five years due to a lack of players.

They have since been bolstered by an influx of new and old players, including some new players from the Queen's Dragoons Guards, who are based at Swanton Morley.

That fresh intake prompted a 31-10 home win over Norwich Union to get their season up and running. A 41-14 defeat at Norwich Medics and 11-5 loss at Fakenham followed, before a 36-10 home victory over Wymondham seconds last weekend.

With the first XV without a game this weekend, captain and club treasurer Marcus Evans stresses that plenty more players are still needed.

'We've spread the word on social media and a lot of personal time has been put in, not just by myself but by flyers and posters being spread around, and I'd say we've got five or six players in during the last month.

'We've had a lot more enquiring and have said they are wanting to play and are looking to come down in the future.'

The club is also working to build a youth system and hopes to build ties with the town's high schools and sixth-form.

Evans added: 'It shows how much it means to a lot of people and credit to the people who have stuck at it when a lot have left because of the uncertainty, we can be really proud.'

• Diss have had to withdraw from the Intermediate Cup, due to lack of front row cover for tomorrow's scheduled trip to Welwyn in the first round, and Norwich have been left without a game after Enfield Ignatians pulled out of the competition.

• The EDP's new rugby magazine, Up & Under, is now available for free at clubhouses around the region. The magazine includes features on all of the area's clubs, participation in the Eastern Counties region and the local work of rugby charity Wooden Spoon, as well as interviews with Leicester Tigers players Ben Youngs and George Catchpole.