Holt remain league leaders after a bonus point win but were made to dig deep to overcome a spirited performance by their hosts.

Holt were awarded two penalties after early pressure, one of which was converted by full back James Wyatt.

Thurston responded with a penalty converted by fly-half Kieran Cusker.

The visitors were not making it easy for themselves with unforced errors and giving away too many penalties.

Relief came with a driving maul which resulted in a try for hooker Kyle Routley, converted by Wyatt, to make it 3-10. Holt fly-half Geoff Flather then glided through the home defence to score under the posts with Wyatt converting for a 3-17 lead. Cusker closed the gap for Thurston to 6-17 just before half-time with a penalty kick.

Holt got off to a good start in the second half with a try by Robbie Gray, converted by Wyatt.

Thurston were still enjoying their fair share of possession and testing the Holt defence with strong running from Cusker and their captain Ed Barron. A thirty metre driving maul by Thurston resulted in a try converted by Cusker which reduced the deficit to 13-24.

Gray scored his second try after receiving a clever reverse pass from Bruce van Poortvliet. The conversion by Wyatt made it 31-13 and he completed the scoring with his ever reliable boot when he converted a try by The Norfolk Brewhouse man of the match Henry Flower, who out-paced the Thurston defence down the right wing.

Another young player to impress was Ollie Jaggard who came off the bench for the last quarter of the game to make his first team debut and looked very assured at fly-half.

Wymondham lost for the first time this season, 36-13 at Wisbech, while West Norfolk are one point behind them following their third win in four, a 34-12 victory over Woodbridge with tries from Aspery (2), Fox, Evans and Williamson and a penalty and three conversions and a penalty from Wicks.

Head coach Aaron Swanborough said: 'With a few key players missing through injuries and availability, it shows that the depth in squad is coming on.'

Thetford have now won two and lost two after being beaten 33-19 at home by Ely.