AS the season nears the halfway point North Walsham rugby players seriously need to get their problems sorted.With just one win and a draw from their eight matches they languish on the edge of the relegation zone.

AS the season nears the halfway point North Walsham rugby players seriously need to get their problems sorted.

With just one win and a draw from their eight matches they languish on the edge of the relegation zone. But a couple of wins will make no end of a difference.

That's the good news, the bad is that the two sides below them, Sutton and Epsom and Haywards Heath, play each other this weekend. And whatever the result, if Walsham lose against Luton then they will drop a place into the bottom two.

While the Vikings have been playing better week on week, it is the results that matter more than the quality of the rugby, and they need to discover a ruthless streak, find the resolve to compete for the full 80 minutes and cut down the penalty count which has cost them dear.

Unless there are injuries or a member of the Raiders took the eye last week, there is every possibility that the coaches will select an unchanged side.

The newcomers to the squad David Treglown and Umar Bryce will both have benefited from the experience gained at Old Albanians. The former, who has the key role of outside half, will have gained a far greater understanding of the way the players around him play the game while Bryce will have lost some of the rustiness that was inevitable and understandable due to his long absence from rugby played at that intensity.

The Raiders, who suffered a defeat at Southend last week, will be hoping that Richmond Saxons have overcome their front row deficiency and will come to Scottow as promised.

Skipper Soul Phoenix is pleased with the way his side has performed of late and will want to get back to winning ways. Kick off for the Vikings is at 3pm and the Raiders at 2pm.

Old Albanians 37, North Walsham 22

From the touchline it looked as though some of the Vikings simply ran out of steam as the hosts turned a nine-point deficit into a 15-point lead in the final 23 minutes.

After a shaky start in which they conceded a converted try within two minutes, the Vikings fought their way back to play their best rugby of the season for the best part of an hour.

Walsham Raiders, facing a strong Southend II side, not unexpectedly suffered defeat, but the Warriors continued their run of success with 27-5 victory over Wisbech II.

North Walsham Warriors 44, Wisbech 2nd XV 5

CONFIDENT Warriors were brought down to earth by a Wisbech side that ran them ragged in the opening minutes.

Taking control up front in both scrums and line-outs Hepburn and Mark Scott combined for the latter to score between the posts, Wyatt converting for a seven-point half time lead. Mike Charman and new boy John Lee scored before Wisbech scored an interception try. Tries followed for man of the match Charman and impressive back rower Gav Keegan.

North Walsham U13 5, West Norfolk U1s 22

Defeat for the Walsham youngsters in their first full scale 15-a-side game against a very smart West Norfolk team who dominated territorially throughout. Second-half efforts were rewarded with a try by Charlie Hawkins.