Dreams of promotion are alive and kicking for Norwich RFC – but the club's hierarchy will not be counting their chickens before they hatch.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Rugby Club's director of rugby, David Everitt. Picture: Denise BradleyNorwich Rugby Club's director of rugby, David Everitt. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Archant)

Norwich have won six of their opening seven matches this season, to sit two points clear at the top of the London Two North East table.

Their only defeat was a narrow 30-27 loss at second-placed Chelmsford and today they go to second-bottom Braintree, who have lost all seven of their matches so far.

Director of rugby David Everitt knows not to get too excited though, after seeing the club's first team shake off their relegation struggles of last season

'If the guys do gain promotion then great, we'll assess what we need to do then,' Everitt said. 'We're not going to turn it down that's for sure, we would try to stabilise and then move forward, that's what the club is trying to do anyway.

'The target was the top four this season and that's looking achievable – but it is a long season.'

The good form has made for a great start to life under new head coach Jonny O'Brien, a long-serving player at Beeston Hyrne who took over because of family commitments for Ian Fraser, who remains with the club as a coach.

Everitt credits the close-season fitness regime brought in by O'Brien as a key reason behind the team's improvement.

O'Brien is manager of the rugby academy at Easton College, where youngsters are coached by North Walsham head coach Nick Greenhall.

If Norwich continue at their current rate, the duo could be facing each other as opposing coaches in London One North next season.

That would also allow a rivalry between two clubs which are less than eight miles apart to flourish, a rivalry which has had little chance to be tested in the past decade.

Everitt added: 'If we carry on progressing the way we are doing then it would be our main aim to be the senior side in Norfolk, it always has been.

'In the last couple of decades North Walsham have been more in the top-dog position but hopefully we can challenge them in the future.'