IT'S a mid-table clash for North Walsham when newly-promoted Basingstoke, one spot above them, visit Scottow.The Raiders hope to get their season back on track hosting Basingstoke II while the Warriors head off to Holt.

IT'S a mid-table clash for North Walsham when newly-promoted Basingstoke, one spot above them, visit Scottow.

The Raiders hope to get their season back on track hosting Basingstoke II while the Warriors head off to Holt.

Portsmouth 19, Walsham Vikings 10

Vikings gifted their opponents four points with a simply dreadful performance.

It was indiscipline that cost Walsham dear with a penalty count of 20 to three.

A penalty was conceded and moved into kickable distance after backchat but Steve Ott pulled it wide. Playing to their strength, a big pack of forwards, Portsmouth drove into the Walsham 22, Sokia was penalised for taking an opponents legs in the maul and yellow carded and Ott netted points via the post.

After a ball was pumped into the air Bruce van Poortvliet muscled his way between two defenders to score, with Justin Loveridge converting. Portsmouth were pushed right off the ball, a penalty conceded and converted by Loveridge. A penalty by Shane van Vuuren saw one of Walsham's best attacks but they could not score.

Simon Gregory was pushing Walsham back with some telling kicks and in front of their posts someone handled in a ruck and Ott brought the gap back to a single point.

With five minutes to go, a penalty was again advanced 10 metres and Ott, who had looked shaky early on, put his side in front.

In the final minute a long speculative kick was gathered by van Vuuren, who up to this point had been outstanding, but his attempted clearance was charged down. Darryl Wahipi followed up, touched down and Ott denied Walsham a bonus point.

Walsham Warriors 41, Diss III 3

A DECISIVE win in a fiercely-contested game made it three in a row for the Warriors. A surging break by Tony Kingsmill set up a good series of moves before Tom Bennett released Matt Jarry-Ryan to score. Seb Goodge pulled three points back with a penalty for Diss.

A trademark run by Jeff van Poortvliet ended with a touchdown and a conversion and penalty by Kingsmill had Walsham in command. The second half saw the Warriors produce their best rugby of the season. Mike Charman came on in the pack and made several defence-splitting runs. More tries followed including a second for Jarry-Ryan after a scintillating break.

Thetford 11, Holt 11

A missed penalty conversion in the last minute denied Holt victory. Holt were 11-6 behind but with two minutes left won a line-out close to the Thetford line.

With a controlled drive, Child went over to score the equalising try and to level the scores at 11-11. The outcome of the match now relied on the conversion, which was off target and with the final whistle going soon after, Holt had to settle for the draw.

Holt had made the early running and Graham Ilsley kicked a penalty after five minutes to open their account. The hosts scored a try to gain the lead by 5-3.

Holt were unlucky not to go ahead after a penalty, but Ilsley was again on target with another penalty kick. Thetford regained the lead 8-6 with a penalty conversion. Two Holt penalty chances went begging and Thetford kicked a penalty before Holt pulled level at the death. Next, Holt are at home to league leaders Newmarket.