North Walsham Raiders made the short trip to Wymondham seconds for their final league game of the season and ran out comfortable 25-6 winners to consolidate their fourth place in Eastern Counties Two North.

Fielding a side with several players with first team experience they got off to a good start when outside half Ethan Benney went over in the corner.

Unfortunately the conversion attempt, as with all subsequent kicks, failed.

Indiscipline in their own half was costly as Wymondham took the lead with two penalties. But following a scrum five metres from their own line the Raiders broke away and wing Harry Dye ran 80 metres to score, the 10-6 lead holding to half-time. Dominating in the scrums, even when down a man due to a yellow card, the forwards provided good ball to the back line who looked likely to score on several occasions but good defence held them back.

Early in the second half full back Jon Younie got on the end of a move started by wing Bill Vurewa to increase the lead. Wymondham struck back hard and came close to crossing the line but the Raiders defence was impenetrable.

Skipper Stuart Loose went off with a rib injury but the scrum held firm. Pressure finally told when flanker Chris Kent was held up short but stretched to touch down and in the final few minutes Younie completed a double.Scrum-half Liam Clarke was judged to be man-of-the-match following a superb game where his flawless distribution was matched by a tigerish display around the finges.

Having completed their league fixtures the Raiders travel down the road to play Norwich Lions on Saturday in the semi-finals of the Woodfordes Norfolk Bowl for second teams.

The squad, which has a good balance of youth and experience, has been strengthened in recent weeks by the inclusion of players reaching the conclusion of their playing careers and five or six youngsters who are transitioning from youth to senior rugby. The game gets under way at 3pm.

Should the Raiders win they will be joining their first team at the Big Rugby Weekend, which is being staged this year at Holt over the weekend of May 6 and 7.

All the county finals will be held over the two days, with the Vikings having already booked a meeting with Diss in the senior event.