This game between two old rivals was as close as the scoreline indicates, with the sides sharing six tries and only a conversion splitting them.

Diss had the more experienced squad while the Raiders were giving senior debuts to four members of the youth section and three new recruits.

With the heavier pack Diss dominated the set scrums, but the lineouts were more evenly shared, with Phil Robinson and young Charles Larner doing sterling work.

Diss took an early lead when one of their big front row forwards barrelled over in the corner and they extended their lead to 12 points within 15 minutes with a converted try.

This was largely due to a lack of familiarity and therefore cohesion among the Raiders, but it was soon apparent that whatever the outcome it would be the home side that would play the best rugby and it would be much closer than the early stages might have indicated.

As things settled down it was a flowing back line move that produced the Raiders' first points as Ollie Dyke, back after a long lay-off, broke the line and fed young Michael Mulhall for a debut try.

Five minutes into the second half Robinson broke through and chipped ahead for Harry Dye to collect and score in the corner.

Diss struck back with another forward-led try which was again converted, but the latter stages were nearly all in the Diss half and with 10 minutes remaining Robinson got on the end of a passing movement, touching down, and Mulhall coolly slotted the conversion a metre in from the touchline.

The man of the match award went to young Will Haynes for an all-action display of tackling and turnovers – indeed the performance of all the youngsters was enough to indicate that there are some good young players coming through the system at Scottow.

Both North Walsham and Holt are both without a game on Saturday, with the weekend reserved for re-arranged fixtures.

The Vikings' Chalk Hill Brewery man of the match on Saturday was Jordan Mustard for his huge defensive goalline effort preventing a score by Chingford No 8 David Ogufere.

North Walsham Raiders 17 Diss Saracens 19