Boss Nigel Richardson believes anybody can win the Greene King Eastern Counties Division One title this season - including his West Norfolk side.

The North Wootton outfit sit fourth in the 12-team table after five game but with just three points separating the top six the Gatehouse Lane chief insists his team are in with a shout.

And Richardson is sure if they perform like they did in the first period during Saturday's 21-17 defeat at home to Woodbridge - which saw them blow a 12-point half-time lead - they will be there or thereabouts come April.

'No is looking like they will run away with it, the league is looking so open at the moment,' said Richardson.

'There are no easy games this season, no gimmees, and most if not all of the results have been close. There have been one or two shocks scores as well which proves anyone can turn up anywhere and get a result.

'We're happy to be up there in with a group of teams that all feel they could win the league, or finish second. If we stick to our gameplan, and play like we did in opening half against Woodbridge, we've got a chance.'

Richardson admits his young side's naivety came back to haunt them at the weekend as they slipped to their first home league defeat of the campaign.

However, he expects Wests to learn lessons from their disappointing second-half display - starting tomorrow when they welcome fifth-placed Hadleigh to King's Lynn.

Richardson said: 'We need to be ruthless and keep getting the ball out wide, rather than trying to match opponents' packs.

'We seemed to take our foot off the gas a little bit and started to kick too much ball away. We're not a kicking side. We showed a bit of inexperience at times. 'That said, I was more pleased with our performance than when we won at Thurston the week before because we didn't play well there. The boys are getting there, but they've got to learn quickly. 'It's not all doom and gloom - especially if some of the lads step up to the mark.'

Jake Richardson will miss Hadleigh's visit through work commitments while Tui Ulaiasi may return after missing his side's weekend defeat for the same reason.