Vikings should be stronger

WHILST no-one can deny the commitment of the North Walsham Vikings youngsters who stepped up last week at Old Albanians, the 55-0 reverse showed it is clearly no substitute for experience.

With players making themselves available again this week, North Walsham should be able to field a much stronger side for the trip to Havant, writes Tony Marcantonio.

Due to the adverse weather in early January what should have been a free Saturday became a league one, and a couple of players had made early arrangements to do other things. They should be back for the trip to Hampshire.

Alex Soutar is one of those due back and, depending on whether Shaun Woodhouse is able to travel, will either start or bench. The remainder of the pack could well be unchanged, giving a second start to student Ed Elvin who won plaudits from his more experienced team-mates.

There will almost certainly be changes behind the pack if Jamie Burroughs, who took a precautionary day off at OAs to rest a shoulder injury.

If he comes back, then Adie Ball can revert to full-back with Tom Holt on one wing and possibly Shane van Vuuren on the other.

On last week's showing Iain Young must be favourite to continue at outside-half. He has long felt it to be his best position but circumstances have dictated that last week was only his third start there.

Having lost their last four games Walsham need a win to start a run to move away from the strugglers and although Havant are a couple of places and 13 points better off than the Vikings, they have themselves hit a bad patch - having failed to score in their last two games and shipped just over 100.

The Vikings are seeking a fixture in the pool and the Warriors resume Merit Table action against Norwich Lions at Beeston Herne.

The U17s were unable to play at London Scottish on Sunday as the ground was unplayable on Saturday with a threat of further rain to come. They await a new date for the fixture.