Norman Potter Trophy win for West Norfolk U15s

Under the shadows of planes carrying holidaymakers in search of winter sun, West Norfolk Under 15s travelled east to Norwich and delivered their burst of winter sunshine, securing a triumphant victory in the Norman Potter Trophy.The match began with a dazzling breakaway run from Jack Skinner, putting West Norfolk behind the Norwich defensive line.The ball was quickly recycled, and Samuel McKenzie dashed down the left wing, scoring the opening try. Christopher Maule’s conversion made it 0-7, a perfect start that felt like an early Christmas gift.The game then turned into a festive tug-of-war, with both teams taking turns to march each other up and down the pitch.West Norfolk favoured running the ball, while Norwich relied on their forwards and power game.Despite being down to 14 players, West Norfolk’s defence was eventually breached by Norwich, who scored in the left corner, making it 5-7.Just before the half-time whistle, Norwich capitalized on West Norfolk’s lack of discipline, punching through West Norfolk’s defence to take a 10-7 lead. During the half-time talk, assistant coach Edward Maule inspired the team to believe in themselves. West Norfolk returned to the pitch with renewed intensity, pushing into the Norwich 22, only to be thwarted by some uncharacteristic handling errors.However, their persistence paid off when Charles Green was brought down by a high tackle near the try line, resulting in a penaltytry and a 10-14 lead. With their confidence growing like a snowball rolling downhill, West Norfolk continued to pressure Norwich.As Norwich began to tire, West Norfolk’s defence, led by Felix Slingsby, blunted the previously unstoppable Norwich power game. In attack, West Norfolk found gaps and won the gain line battle with every carry.Their composure and precision opened a huge hole in the Norwich defence, allowing Jac Fox to score under the posts, with Maule adding the conversion to make it 10-21. In the final moments, West Norfolk wrapped up their victory with a festive flourish.Rowan Ryder made a rampaging break down the right touchline, and captain Logan Barrett ran a superb supporting line to score the final try, sealing a well-deserved 10-26 victory.This match was a true Christmas cracker, showcasing the spirit and determination of West Norfolk Under 15s.West Norfolk: Rhys Allerton, Logan Barrett (C), Joseph Bowen, Anthony Collings, Jac Fox, Charles Green, Jacob Hancock, Lewis Hart, Harry Hollands, Samuel McKenzie, Christopher Maule, Patrick Oughton-Tooke, Rowan Ryder, Jack Skinner (MOM), Felix Slingsby (MOM), TomSoar, Oliver Stevenson, Logan Thorpe & Hayden Wesley-James.