West Norfolk make it seven wins from seven games

Mistley 21 West Norfolk 27West Norfolk maintained their 100 per cent start heading into back-to-back home games at Gatehouse Lane.The league leaders headed to Mistley for what would be a hard-fought clash.They managed an early score from scrum-half Ethan Young who disrupted his opposite number, forcing them to spill the ball for captain Jack Wicks to take the loose ball over the line, before converting his own score.Mistley put in some strong runs in response but West put pressure back onto the home team, with Fin Wilcox scooping up the ball mid-stride, powering through the home defence to ground the try for a second score, this time unconverted.The hosts rallied, coming back to find a gap in West’s defensive lines, running in a well-deserved try and converting it to put themselves firmly on the board.Maintaining this energy, Mistley forced an error from the normally unflappable Wicks and with a dominant scrum on the West 5m line, forced a penalty and took another three points, which Wicks quickly countered with a penalty in West Norfolk’s favour. Some scrappy play from the visitors gave the Mistley forwards space to make ground before another penalty against West ultimately resulted in another unconverted score for the hosts.The sides went into the half-time break level at 15-15 with all to play for.West Norfolk started the second half lacking energy. Poor rucking and laziness in the breakdown opened the door for Mistley once more, resulting in West conceding a penalty right in front of the posts, which was successfully kicked, soon followed by another. Rallying urgently, the visitors were finally able to get into the Mistley 22-yard area through sustained possession.Jacob Chapman (Man of the Match) ploughed over the line to bring the score back to 21-19, with Wicks converting for maximum points. An energised West saw JJ Hart skipping around multiple Mistley players, with Wicks placing a well-balanced kick into the Mistley corner for Moses and Williams to chase.The lone Mistley defender had to guide the ball into touch, giving West a lineout 15 metres out, which set up a solid ruck from which Angus Williams took a crash ball and recycled the ball.Some quick hands from Wicks once again found Chapman – bouncing his way through some last-ditch defensive efforts – for him to score, with Wicks converting on the whistle for West Norfolk to edge ahead and take the win.