West Norfolk complete a league and cup double

West Norfolk RFC had the honour of welcoming the great and the good from our regional rugby clubs on a blustery May Saturday and Sunday for the annual Big Rugby Weekend, a particular privilege in what is the club’s Centenary year.With a raft of clubs and their supporters attending Gatehouse Lane in both fancy dress and club colours, hundreds came to cheer their respective teams on and avail themselves of the food, drink and hospitality on offer.Saturday saw the seniors’ fixtures taking place, with six different competitions taking place throughout the day.West Norfolk RFU were represented by both the men’s and the women’s first teams, with the men securing the win against Fakenham and achieving a double of taking both the League title and also the cup – a feat not seen before in the Club’s history.Fellow league champions, West Norfolk Women, then took to the pitch against local rivals Wymondham in a much-anticipated contest, which saw a physical, fast-paced match unfold between the two, ultimately resulting in a loss to the home team and Wymondham taking the Women’s Cup.Other wins saw North Walsham lift two trophies on the day, with Norfolk RFU representatives presenting the winners from each match with their respective silverware before the onlooking crowd.Sunday ushered in a day full of Youth rugby, again bringing several regional teams who were competing in nine different matches across both boys’ and girls’ sections.West Norfolk’s U14 and U16 youth boys were battling Wymondham and Holt respectively, with the U14s game resulting in a stunning victory from the West boys, secured in front of an ecstatic crowd of supporters of the home team. The U16s faced a physically dominant Holt squad who put the boys under pressure, ultimately taking the win, although West’s U16s rallied in the final quarter.Pooled youth girls’ teams – clusters – across a number of the regional clubs ensured that there was good representation at all age grades and that games could be played, continuing to develop that particular cohort locally and engaging girls in the sport. The celebrations across both days were passionate, vocal and important to all the travelling and home teams who came to compete, seeing hundreds of visitors come to the clubhouse and its new facilities, with all three pitches in constant use throughout the two-day event.Club chair, Ian Trundley, and club president, Steve Smith, were there for both days and were delighted with the quality of rugby played by all teams from West Norfolk, as well as appreciating the huge effort put in by all involved to make the event a success.Volunteers worked tirelessly throughout to provide a safe, enjoyable experience for all, and the Club can now look to the next event on the calendar, the West Norfolk 7s being held on June 14.