Fast-starting Vikings hold on for Hundred victory

By RICHARD HEWITT

N Walsham………….. 31

Rochford H…………..28

North Walsham staved off a Rochford Hundred fightback to hold on for victory in a tight finish.

The match had started well for the Vikings. In the second minute, Ethan Holmwood turned over Rochford ball and the Vikings swept towards the line.

However, Rochford drove the Vikings back into their own 22. From there, Matt Hodgson launched a stunning attack with a glorious long pass. Dan Smith collected, broke free and offloaded to Connor Dudley, who scored a converted try after ten minutes.

Driving the restart into Rochford’s 22, James Knight touched down in the middle of a rolling maul. Knight scored again after 19 minutes, going over the line like a juggernaut. Soon after, Rochford conceded a penalty try and it was 24-0 to the hosts. However, that ended the Vikings’ dominance as Rochford struck back after 27 minutes with a try converted by Chris Dudman, the first of four successful kicks.

Eight minutes later, a Maciu Nabogi try made the half-time score 24-14.

Five minutes into the second half, a clean midfield break got Rochford’s Kyle Johnson in for a try and, 17 minutes later, the Rochford forwards drove over, the converted try taking Rochford into the lead for the first time at 28-24.

Three minutes later, the Vikings regained the lead with the last score of the match when James Basavaraj broke clear and offloaded to Dudley for a converted try.

Before the match, there was a minute’s silence in memory of Tony Marcantonio, a past Vikings chairman and stalwart for years, who died recently.