North Walsham 13, Beccles 0A brave Beccles rugby side were knocked out of the Woodforde's Senior Cup after one of their best performances of the season at higher league North Walsham.

North Walsham 13, Beccles 0

A brave Beccles rugby side were knocked out of the Woodforde's Senior Cup after one of their best performances of the season at higher league North Walsham.

The hosts scored with the first and last play of the game to progress in the cup.

Although Beccles knocked a weakened Vikings team out of the cup last season, they knew they would be in for a much harder game this time around, with Walsham at home and fielding a near full-strength side.

Paul Wilson and Payne returned after missing the previous week and Sale returned at scrum-half after being injured before Christmas.

North Walsham started the game well and they made two breaks from the back of a driven maul, the second of which resulted in an unconverted try.

Beccles didn't panic after conceding the early score and began to play their way into the game.

The Beccles set piece was going well. In the scrum Beccles were winning their own ball comfortably and driving the opposition back on their ball, and taking possession against the head.

They also began to edge a good contest in the line-out. Beccles kept Walsham pinned in their own half for most of the rest of the half.

The backs looked dangerous on occasions, with Rowney especially creating a few half-breaks. However, against the higher level opposition, chances that would normally be taken in a league game were cancelled out by a defence used to playing at a better standard.

This was ultimately the difference between the two sides on the day.

Beccles came closest to getting on the score sheet when a Wade penalty crashed against the post. The half-time score was 5-0.

North Walsham upped their game in the second half and started to take the play to Beccles, who managed to keep the opposition out with some solid defending.

There were good tackles going in all over the pitch, led by Musker McIntyre man of the match Geyser.

Beccles went down to 14 men when Rix was sent to the sin-bin for entering a ruck from the side. During the sin-bin period Walsham extended their lead with a penalty.

Beccles began to make their way into Walsham territory. They got up close to the Walsham line, but could not get the try they needed to get back into the game.

The Walsham defence was solid and Beccles could not find a way through. As the game moved into the last play, Walsham finished with a score from a driving maul.

Beccles were disappointed to lose the game, but know they can now concentrate on winning the league and getting promotion.

They know if they can keep playing at the standard they played on Saturday, they will have no problem finishing the season successfully.

This starts with a home fixture against Wanstead tomorrow, kick-off at 2.15pm.