North Walsham Vikings' rugby team won consecutive home games for the first time this season to boost their survival hopes, edging a close match of high quality against a strong Guernsey side, who were left ruing the chances missed (final score 20-12).
The match kicked off in what appeared to be the beginnings of some winter sunshine. Both teams contributed to a first half of high quality rugby, Guernsey’s strong pack balancing the mobility of the Vikings backs and back-row forwards.
Guernsey started well when their rolling maul crossed the Vikings’ line for a converted try. The power of the Guernsey pack looked ominous, but the Vikings dug deep to match them for most of the rest of the match. 0-7
The Vikings got on the scoreboard in the ninth minute with a penalty from the almost faultless boot of Matt Hodgson, and eventually overtook the early Guernsey score with a fine try from Max Otis. At half time the match was finely balanced at 13-7
A squall spoiled the weather at half time, and the second half was played in light rain and a much stronger wind that favoured Guernsey. The Vikings completed their scoring when Otis gathered, kicked over the onrushing full back, and dived on the ball for his second try. This was the only time that the Vikings got as far as their opponents 22 in the second half. 20-7
In the changed conditions, Guernsey mounted wave after wave of attacks. They were left wondering what might have been having got into the Vikings’ 22 on eleven occasions, but only one try to reward their efforts. This came on 64 minutes through Webb, Thomas managing to miss his kick. Full time: 20-12
North Walsham played particularly well in the good conditions of the first half, encouraging player coach James Knight to think that they were giving themselves a good chance of avoiding relegation. The heart that the team showed in defence in the second half was particularly pleasing, and as a result Charlie Fethney was man of the match in his first game at second-row.
Scorers: Vikings: tries - Otis (2); conversions - M. Hodgson (2); penalties - M. Hodgson (2). Guernsey: tries - Ceillam, Webb; conversions - Thomas.
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