North Walsham lost their first away game of the season, going down by nine tries to three in an entertaining game at Cow Lane, writes Graham Price.

The Vikings came up against a well-drilled Tring side which spent last season in the national leagues and, despite having to play some individuals out of position, put in a gutsy performance.

The visitors were first on the scoreboard, with a Mat Hodgson penalty, before home number 11 Tommy Ward took the first of his three tries following a 50-metre dash down the left wing.

Tring outside-half Tom Newton then touched down, and was a scourge all afternoon, adding another try, two penalties and seven conversions to contribute 30 points to the final tally.

Chalk Hill Brewery man of the match Freddie Henley-Hunter was a livewire with the ball in hand, and scored following a 40-metre solo burst, in the line from full-back, Hodgson's kick coming back off the left upright.

Walsham were giving Tring too much time on the ball and were guilty of defensive lapses around the fringes of the breakdown before home captain Nick Radley put Harry Thorogood away for try number three.

Hodgson was short with a penalty kick in the second quarter and the sides went in at half-time with the hosts 22-8 to the good.

Tring right wing Theo Gayton took the first of two tries after the restart, followed by a Newton try and penalty.

With Aki Downing off the field with an injury, Tom Browes received a yellow card, and the match went to uncontested scrums, resulting in two tries in three minutes for Ward.

Dom Roberts put in numerous carries over the gain line, but was often isolated, before Gayton went over for Tring and then Hodgson scored for the visitors, following a juggling match in the right-hand corner.

Walsham pressure continued in the other corner, resulting in a penalty try, converted by Hodgson.

Tring rounded off the match with a try for lock Mike March, after another Newton break.

Walsham, with three wins and two defeats, have now slipped to seventh in London 1 North and next week entertain Barking, who are five rungs below, with only one win from five starts.

North Walsham: F Henley-Hunter, E Benney (S Rossi 63), C Godwin, G Kirkham, J Younie, M Hodgson, T Lomax, A Downing (N Rokodinono 30), M Oakes, T Browes (D Roberts 38), G Salzedo, J Lawson, R Oakes, T Coller, T Williams (c)

Tries: F Henley-Hunter, M Hodgson. Penalty try: M Hodgson. Penalty: M Hodgson

Yellow card: T Browes

Referee: Ryan Jones (Herts Soc)