Chelmsford 8 North Walsham 21

North Walsham made it five wins from seven in London One North with this comprehensive victory at Scottow, writes John Morse.

Playing down a slope in the first half they turned around just 14-5 ahead and soon saw their lead cut by three, but a converted try with 20 minutes to go settled matters.

In contrast to their last three games, all high scoring and crammed with running rugby, this match was dominated by the forwards and the Vikings' pack came out on top in all respects.

A Matt Hodgson penalty gave the Vikings an early lead. In the 15th minute defensive lapses enabled Will Ferrier to score but three minutes later another penalty put the hosts ahead.

The rest of the half belonged to the Vikings and on the half hour they were rewarded a kickable penalty which was delivered to the corner and from the lineout a maul was held up and Wayne Williams ran the perfect line to crash over.

Constantly on the attack another try seemed inevitable, but it never came and the hosts had to be content with another Matt Hodgson penalty.

With rain beginning to fall and the slope in their favour, Chelmsford began the second half by enjoying their best spell territorially but without ever threatening a try. Ten minutes in Simon Hoult kicked a penalty awarded for front row offence but that was as good as it got for them. The Vikings were in no mood to let this one slip and, with skipper Tom Williams leading by example, they reasserted their authority.

Midway through the half came a forwards' try. After a Vikings' lineout 20 metres out, a maul, with backs joining in, marched to the line where Wayne Williams scored and Matt Hodgson converted. The Vikings then showed they know how to close a game down, pinning Chelmsford in their half with the forwards keeping it tight.

'We knew we had to be ahead at half-time and then after the break we succeeded in controlling the game by keeping them pinned back,' said coach Spencer Williams afterwards.

He nominated Tom Williams Chalk Hill Brewery man of the match.

Fielding probably their strongest squad of the season North Walsham Raiders beat Holt III 46-5 to rack up their third win in succession.

Some good handling ended with Lawrence Randle touching down less than two minutes into his senior debut. Five further tries came in the first half through Rob Beaumont, Tom Coller, Shane van Vuuren (2) and Aaron Beaumont. Holt pulled five points back but late on there were tries for Bill Vurewa and Pena Sokia. Aaron Beaumont (2) and Jimmy Goodliffe added conversions