Within ten minutes Angus Clogg kicked a Woodbridge penalty and James Wyatt did likewise for Holt. Woodbridge worked hard in the ruck, turning over a few and pressing the home line until a penalty allowed Holt to clear up-field, Wyatt with a great carry. Another Woodbridge penalty in their 22, No 8 James Seaman secured the scrum for Holt and fast hands moved the ball wide to winger Ollie Woodrow who nearly made the line. Another scrum and more quick ball from fly half Geoff Flather saw second row Rob Gray interplay with Woodrow and score.

Moments later Holt was fighting out of its own 22 when Clogg intercepted a pass from his opposite number Gareth May to level the score. JP Hart grub-kicked for territory in the blustery breeze and Jeff Buchanan ran back the clearance but the Holt defence held firm forcing the visitors to each wing. Wyatt took a high ball and ran 50m where May found touch on the 5m line where a poor line-out let Holt Skipper Ashley Woods intercept and score.

May was at it again from the off with a charging run but a penalty gave the Warriors more traction Capt Tom Stokes putting in a gallop then Hart scampering out wide. Eventually Clogg took another three points after some energetic rucking.

From the restart No8 Jono Cooke rallied his forwards as they scrummaged under the Holt posts only for a penalty to scupper the move and see Holt counter through a lightning sprint from right wing Henry Fowler and Rob Gray put in a strong carry. With Holt down a man in the bin the Warriors attacked through Cooke, Stokes and Adam Plummer but aggressive rucking allowed Holt to clear. Woodbridge kept it up, Clogg missing a penalty, but Holt got some possession, Flower threatened on the right and some great forward play won a penalty for Wyatt to take another 3 points. With five points in it Woodbridge tried valiantly to breach the home defence but Holt held firm and, despite the pressure, the combat remained good-natured as it ended 18-13.

The visitors exerted early pressure their line-out worked well and centre Tom Gelder and full back Will Martin put in some aggressive runs. Penalties in attack frustrated the Warriors, scrum half Adam Plummer and lock Dan Knights pushing hard but Thetford held possession moving the ball quickly for centres Gelder and Josh Clark to press on the left wing. Play stayed central for a while with both teams testing the long kick and running from deep. Tackles were plenty and the ruck was heavily contested – Thetford looking the better drilled, second rows working effectively to clear out. Plummer got sacked at the back of a scrum and Thetford’s backs used rapid hands out to wing Kristopher Minter winning a penalty and Martin took the points. Woodbridge fought for more possession and peppered the Thetford 22 touch, Matt Bowman linking with Hart on one promising dart but the defence held. The half ended with Thetford threatening the home try line.

The men form the forest attacked on the right wing through Minter and then Gelder was at it again, jinking and sidestepping down centre-field. Hart came to the rescue with an excellent touch as things went aerial, Warrior full back Angus Clogg kicking long for his talented opposite number; the omnipresent Martin to recover it, kick on and run in a try on the left. Woodbridge doggedly kept up the challenge, Bowman took over the charge, Capt Tom Stokes worked hard on the ground to get the ball for Hart to battle over and lift the crowd as he scored between the posts. Thetford’s forwards picked and drove forcing the Warriors into their own goal area where a push over scrum saw the ubiquitous Martin in the No8 position score. Woodbridge had a couple of attacks, Clogg running clearances back with Simon Ward, Stokes and Cook in support and established a few attacking line-outs. There was an air of inevitability when Martin received the ball on the 10m line and dodged and served his way to a hat-trick having scored and kicked 26 of the Thetford’s 31 points.

Woodbridge lost when they last played W Norfolk in 2014. The hosts started strongly, pressuring the visitors and drawing a penalty after a dart by flanker David Evans and full back Jake Richardson who sadly broke his leg in the ruck and play was delayed an hour. After the ambulance left Sam Moses took 3 points. Aggressive Warrior tackling earned a penalty line-out and a great drive from Dan Knights and Owen Scott saw JP Hart pass quickly to Lee Barton who scored. Game on. Woodbridge kept Norfolk pinned in its half despite them getting the better of the scrums. Possession was kicked away and the Warriors welcomed the attacking opportunity, Matt Bowman made 20m, moved the ball wide, Barton nearly scored again. Woodbridge harried and rucked well to disrupt and frustrate – Captain Tom Stokes, No8 Jono Cooke, lock Aldis Salavejs and front row led with charges until a line-out was moved quickly cross field via Hart for Bowman to dot down and Jamie Smith convert. West Norfolk worked themselves upfield to camp on the Woodbridge 5m line where Luke Lovell, Paul Denton and Paul Bridges drove hard and nearly crossed the line. A reset and fast hands from 9 Olly Ridout and Moses gave Olly Denton the try. Played stayed central with both sides working hard to keep ball in hand but being forced to kick. A Warrior ruck eventually gave clean ball for Hart to Sam Hallows who scored.

The second half started with a barrage of Woodbridge belligerence as they worked well at the breakdown and kept the ball winning a penalty under the post for Smith to take 3 points. Norfolk countered on the left with big prop Paul Bridges putting in some strong carries and breaking tackles. The penalties began to mount and yellow cards were received by both teams as frustration raised tension. In the final ten minutes Woodbridge received a succession of penalties in defence and Norfolk capitalised with a forwards strike through Edney Costa in the corner. Not enough to deny Woodbridge their first 2017/18 win.

We wish Jake Richardson W Norfolk full back a speedy recovery from his injury

West Norfolk 13 v Woodbridge Warriors 22