Four-try Oliver inspires comeback win

Oliver Slingsby was the four-try hero as West Norfolk U13s travelled to Hethersett to take on Crusaders U13s under sunny skies.The teams and supporters observed a Remembrance silence before kick-off, setting a respectful tone for the day.Crusaders took early control, showing impressive ball movement and exploiting gaps to establish a 15-0 lead.However, West Norfolk soon settled into their rhythm, with Slingsby breaking through to score and put West on the scoreboard.Building momentum, West began to gain territory. Toby Biggs and Toby Easter led with strong carries, pushing Crusaders back and setting a solid platform.Sam Wharton then found Slingsby in space for his second try, reducing the deficit.Crusaders hit back, catching West’s defence off guard to score from an attacking scrum to extend their lead. Undeterred, West Norfolk launched a spirited comeback, using structured phase play and scrum dominance. The pack’s weight and strength in scrums gave West Norfolk an edge, helping them wear down their opponents.Lewis Symonds, Biggs and Easter continued making metres while Alex Maule and Gabriel Ramos stretched the defence with their pace and footwork.The forwards also showed much-improved speed to the rucks, ensuring quick ball for their backs. Slingsby completed his hat-trick and added a fourth try shortly after.West’s defence was key in the second half, with Zach Swash making a crucial try-saving tackle to keep Crusaders from pulling ahead. With minutes to go, Crusaders managed a late try, edging ahead and setting up a tense finale.But West Norfolk’s scrum-half, Harry Pybus, had other ideas. A cheeky pick-and-go from close range brought the score level, keeping West’s hopes alive. From the restart, Wharton’s perfectly placed grubber kick allowed Ben Janusauskis to gather and sprint over for the winning try, securing a dramatic 30-25 victory for West Norfolk.Player of the Match: Ben Janusauskis.Supporters’ Player: Harry Pybus.