Norfolk County Cup Semi-final U-16


(Sun 28th) Norwich - 10 West Norfolk -12


West made the long-awaited trip for what was expected to be a close and hard-fought game.
It lived up to that.
Norwich were clearly well up for the game and started strongly.
However, West worked their way back into the Norwich half and began to work it through the backs, coming close but being unable to finish through spirited Norwich defence. Eventually West put together several phrases of sustained attacks and a superb ball movement through the back line allowed Vini Hart to outpace the stretched defence out wide and run around under the posts for a simple conversion.
West maintained the pressure with some well placed kicks deep into Norwich territory. From a resulting line-out, the forwards had their say with a well-executed catch and drive from a few metres out - the ever present AJ Edwards carried from the base and dived over for a further try, which went unconverted.
At that point it looked like West could run away with the game, but Norwich dug in and began to dictate the game more, subduing the West backs and edging it at the breakdowns. West were effectively starved of quality possession and Norwich began to get the upper hand, aided by some poor decision making from West and an unacceptable missed tackle count, and indeed this was what allowed Norwich in for a deserved converted try.
The remainder of the game offered little in the way of fast, open, entertaining rugby, both sides knowing their opponent's strengths and playing the game accordingly.
Norwich added a penalty and had the better of the second half, indeed several kickable penalties that could have sealed victory for them went astray in the cross-wind.
West had just done enough, and indeed had showed great commitment and fought hard to keep Norwich at bay, but will be aware of the need to rectify some aspects of their performance if they are to retain the County Cup for a second year.
Man-of -Match - AJ Edwards.

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