Spring is here and what a fine day it was for our 3rd trip to Crawley in a month (twice to St. Francis in both League & Cup)... A dry pitch, sunshine and cheap beer. All we needed now was a good game and a win, as it turns out we were in for a treat on the touchline, just need Katrina & The Waves playing in the background...

This was always going to be a tough game, Crawley teams are often attritional and passionate as had our double fixtures with St. Francis proven in the previous weeks. We were glad to welcome the recent return of a few players, Richard Addy, Karl Jackson and PJ Harley. PJs return was much relished if only to amuse the gallery of piss takers amassed on the balcony at Crawley RFC!

As you may have become accustomed, any form of detailed recollection is about as likely as Professor Steven Hawking beating Mo Farah at next months London Marathon. However, the game did get off at a canter, with early exchanges between both sets of forwards being dominated by the smaller but faster Norfolk 8. First try was to come off a driving maul and dotted down by Iain - Bosch - White, sadly Fireman Tim missed the conversion from out wide. 5-0. This was shortly followed by the burrowing figure of Mooey driving over the line, sadly Tim missed with this one too. Finally Mooey went over on about the 20 minute mark and a little closer to posts allowing Tim Laker to chip over for the 2. Score was now 0-17. With the forwards now taking control at the set piece - a superb display from Jon Hamley - Pete Hoare decided to get in on the action and crossed the line from a massive 37cm out, sadly it wasn't directly in front of posts and Tim struggled to convert. 0-22. At this point Norfolk took their heads out of the game for just a few moments and Crawley capitalised with an well worked try under our posts. Conversion followed, 7-22 and the whistle went for half time.

The try from Crawley served as a warning shot. Discussion at half time turned to focus on trying to be more dominant in the tackle and really push hard for the 2nd 40, looking for a ruthless edge to our game.

Second half got under way and it was evident that Crawley saw a way back into this match, but fair play to NARFC they defended as hard as we have seen this season. Across the field there was complete control and confidence in the defensive alignments and abilities of those around them. It was from a heavy Crawley attack that Sam Frankland scored a fabulous try by following his own kick ahead, he converted it too 7- 29. This was followed by Mooey claiming his well earned hat-trick of tries with Andrew Whatley adding the conversion . 7- 36.
The game now started to open up and Norfolk were showing to be slightly fitter. Teo romped in from 30 metres with a super try, sadly Whatters missed the conversion. 7-41. It was at this point we decided to go for the kill and brought on the testosterone filled fire breathing behemoth that is PJ HARLEY, a welcome return since he broke his collar bone earlier in the season. This addition to an already potent back line paid dividends when PJ finished of a move with a 40 metre sprint down the left touch line to give us another try. Missed conversion. 7-46. It was from the ensuing restart that another of our returning players, Richard - Nutter - Addy caught the ball just outside our own 22 and to put it bluntly, pissed off up the pitch with a final pass to Sam Frankland on their 22 giving some the easiest of touch downs and the chance to add another conversion. 7-53. Final whistle went as the conversion was made. Happy days!

Arguably the best performance from the Norfolk this season. All credited to Crawley who were much stronger opposition than the scoreline dictates. Special mentions for Mooey at 8 who controlled and orchestrated a wonderful performance from the Heavy8s (pun intended), Andrew Whatley in the middle for controlling the defensive lines, PJ Harley for keeping the gallery amused and finally my MOTM Sam Frankland for a complete performance, two tries, two conversions, great line breaks and one of the finest tap tackles i've seen all season.

Week off next week, may look for a friendly. Hove 3 the week after.