North Walsham Vikings go down to Dorking

The Vikings spent the first 11 minutes in the Dorking half, scoring through Mustard. Dorking equalised with their first visit to the Vikings’ half when their wing McRae scored - rather too easily - the first of his four tries. 5-5.

McRae got his second on his second visit to the Vikings’ half. Luckily, M.Hodgson was using the wind beautifully and Walsham retook the lead when TaxAssist man-of-the-match Dan Smith collected a kick that the Dorking defence had inexplicably allowed to bounce, M.Hodgson converting this one. 12-10.

The Vikings who finished off the first half scoring with the best try of the game. Another booming kick cut out the midfield, M.Hodgson’s brother Will gathered, fed it back to the kicker to score. Half-time: 19-10.

A scene from North Walsham Vikings' clash against Dorking (Image: Hywel Jones)

It was encouraging to have a healthy half-time lead, but even then it felt that nine points was a poor return given the help of the wind. Two swift forward’s tries and it was all gone. M.Hodgson had a chance to equalise with a penalty, but it curled agonisingly around the left hand post and Walsham’s last scoring opportunity was gone. 19-22

The Vikings were losing control of the setpieces to the heavier Dorking pack, and problems at the breakdowns led to too many opportunities for winger McRae who ended up with a haul of four tries.

Director of rugby James Knight said he was looking for consistency from this match, but the difference in performance from his side from the first half to the second couldn’t have been more extreme.