We continued our league campaign with a trip to Chichester. Such a contrast to the corresponding fixture from last season when we played in the wind, rain and 3 inches of silicon based mud... a lush and firm pitch bathed in sunlight greeted us all at the Chichester grounds on the northern edge of the city.

After a week off there was always the chance of the Norfolk missing a beat and being a little slow to start but this couldn't have been further from the truth. Oddly it was Chichester who were slow (for some reason they thought it acceptable to come onto the pitch 5 minutes late? and without penalty) to wake up when the game started. Norfolk kicked off and the ball bounced through the Chi forwards only to be pounced upon by the bog hopping behemoth that is Matty (TinTin) Wilcock, the quick recycling from the Norfolk pack followed by the quick blindside break from Jez Stewart led to Nick Miller crashing over in the corner inside 60 seconds. Sadly Tim missed the conversion.
A few phases of play had passed and we had been pushed back to our own 22, thankfully we were defending rucks with such venom we managed to turn the ball over. With some quick thinking Captain Fantastic picked up from the back of the ruck and made like Harry Houdini down his favoured blindside once again, 75 yards and 3 missed tackles later he was scoring our second try under the Chi posts. Tim Laker converted taking the score to 0 - 12 in our favour after just 5 minutes. This was the start we had been dreaming of and things were about to get much better... Chi knew they had a game on their hands now and to their credit subbed on the kitchen sink! they through the sink and much more at us for the next 10 minutes, thankfully we were a match for this assault and once again turned defensive phases into attacking as a result of some superb rucking. From the next passage of play, Jez and Tim set Andy Finnis free whom in turn waltzed through the Chi midfield and delivered a perfectly placed pass to Paul Williams who dutifully scored our 3rd try of the game. Sadly Tim missed the conversion. 0 - 17 after 15 minutes.
The ensuing 40 minutes (20 minutes on either side of half time) of rugby is something that wouldn't look out of place on a Bric a Brac stall. Whether we thought the game was won or Chi decided to throw every sink in the house at us is still a mystery and in fairness is most likely a combination of the two. Needless to say I will be brief with the scoring sequence.
Chi scored a converted try from a 5 metre scrum. 7 - 17
Jez Stewart scored his second off of a Nick Miller Drive for the line 7 - 22 (missed con)
Nick Miller is replaced by Jeremy Donnelly
Chichester are given a penalty on the half way line. They tap, go and score a try in the corner. 12 - 22

Half Time

Chichester made a few changes to their squad, 5 in total.
Some scrappy play was followed on the 50 minute marl by a break from the Chi fly half from within his own half resulting in their 3rd try of the game. How he ran through us is still a matter for debate and reflection! The try was converted bringing the score to 19 - 22. Could this really be happening? yes.
More scrappy play followed and finally Chi had pushed their way into our half once again. On or around the 60 minute mark they were awarded a penalty on or about our 22, this was kicked with ease and the scores were now level at 22 a piece.
At this point the sun shone brighter and the sound of pennies dropping could be heard. No one could quite believe that Chi had clawed their way back into this game. Thankfully there was still plenty of time, more importantly there was still plenty of fight and guile left in the Norfolk. A spirited and controlled series of plays saw the Norfolk regain total control of the match. We were then awarded a couple of penalties, sadly Tim was unable to convert the first but made up for this by kicking the second to take the score to 22 - 25 in our favour.
The penalty was followed by even more hard work from the Arms and with 5 minutes to go we pressured Chi into conceding a 5 metre scrum. True to form Matt Hodson picked up from the back of the scrum and drove hard at the line, thwarted just short Jez Stewart finished it off in the corner. Tim missed the conversion but the scoreboard now had that magical 8 points between them 22 - 30. A few minutes later and the match was finished.

A very well earned away win at a previously unbeaten team. We showed great character to bring this one back from the brink. Crawley at home next week in what will be a much tougher test. Obviously our first home game of the season...