It goes to show the improvement L&Y have made over this season when their last result against this team in the first league match of the season was a 120-point drubbing, yet they were disappointed with shipping a paltry 39 points this time around. It was mixed emotions, knowing the yardstick is moving quickly in the right direction, yet still thinking they could have done better on the scoreboard at least. The North Walsham Raiders were quick to praise the strides the home team have made and what a physical challenge they provided.

On a crisp sunny day the conditions were perfect for rugby and it was soon apparent that L&Y were up for the contest when a long kick by Chris Burt was chased well and the NW Raiders were forced into conceding a penalty which unlucky Oscar Anderson bounced against the upright. The Raiders had brought a young skilful team of Colts and college players mixed with several senior players who have already experienced National League rugby with the Vikings 1stXV, but they soon realised this was not going to be a walkover like so many of their previous matches this season.

The play was centred around the middle of the pitch as the teams worked each other out. Scrums started off evenly and the Raiders no10 Jamie Hooker was using his possession well to kick the diagonals and stretch the L&Y defence although fullback Reece Monk and wingers Ethan Harrowven and Tom Lawler were up to the tests. Flanker Harry Norman was immediately prominent in defence and the L&Y midfield were pressuring the visitors hard in an effort to close down their space. After 10 minutes, a wayward clearance allowed NW to counter to the right, some swift breakdowns moved them into the L&Y 22 and Hooker produced a neat chip over the on-rushing defence for his fullback to collect and score a classy converted try.

L&Y unluckily lost vice-captain Kyle Hallam to a leg injury leaving them without his leadership or key hooking role for the rest of the match. With Nick Coules making it three props in the front row, it took L&Y some time to find their balance and NW started to dominate the scrums, although L&Y were more than competitive in the lineout where Callan Barber and Brett Thomas disrupted manfully. The biggest issue was the erratic discipline L&Y showed, conceding far too many silly penalties. An offside midfield by Alex Marshall led to a kicked penalty for Hooker to extend the lead, then some great possession and territory by L&Y took play into the Raiders 22 only to concede a penalty and allow the defence to clear their lines.

Lawler fielded another long Hooker clearance kick and made good ground up the left, aided by Joe Brighty, Alfie Tiffen and Norman. When it cycled right the ball was too slow and instead of driving short, the L&Y backs forced two long passes under pressure and threw a long pass into the NW wingers arms for him to race 50m to score their second try. L&Y didn't panic and knew if they cut out the mistakes then they were easily within reach. More driving play from the home forwards earned a kickable penalty inside the Raiders half and Anderson duly got the home team on the board. This galvanised them into a period where they dominated physically but again kept on making errors allowing Hooker to kick the visitors back into L&Y territory. Just before halftime, some scrambling defence prevented a Raiders score on the left but Brighty had to take a team yellow for the persistent infringements. NW chose a scrum and another kick over the L&Y rush defence ricocheted into a NW hand and they went into the break 22-3 up.

It was a similar story in the second period, lots of great effort by the underdogs let down by occasional rushes of blood to the head. Marshall, Monk and Harrowven were all noticeable in defence with the later two equally keen to run at any opportunity. Tiffin, Josh Williamson, Alfie Webber, Thomas and Barber each made dents driving forward. With L&Y unpressured, an obvious knock-on from the Raiders centre stopped both teams and the whole side-line howled in joy, except when the ref waved play on and gave the ball-carrier a clear unopposed run to the posts. It was a lesson to L&Y to play the whistle and probably their own fault for the picture they had already painted to the referee.

With Brighty back on the pitch L&Y were back to 15 men for only 7 minutes before Brett Thomas copped another yellow for a breakdown offence. Despite the numerical disadvantage L&Y did well to hold out the dangerous visitors until a scrum in the L&Y 22 eventually led to a fifth try again converted by Hooker. The final 15 minutes were a series of momentum shifts, first as Walsham chipped and chased and pushed wide, then as the home team worked from lineout to lineout and into the visitors 22. There was a some excellent quality from both sides and many of the spectators were praising a level of play not seen at Gunton Park for some years. The final score came with 5 minutes to go when the Raiders won a penalty midfield on the L&Y 10-metre line and Hooker took the points almost as if they needed the break to catch their breath.

In all, L&Y can take a lot from the game. They now know they can compete at a much higher level physically and are not far behind in their range of skills. With this confidence and some improved discipline, the mental side of the game will soon allow them the next step towards promotion. Nick Coules was awarded MoM for bravely stepping into the front row as a last minute replacement and performing proudly.