Norwich 41pts Barnet Elizabethans 7pts

The visitors were denied quality possession for most of the game, especially in a torrid first half when they conceded four tries, three of them quite soft. When they did gain the ball, they were always on the back foot and unable to penetrate the gain line, whilst the home side were slick in their movements and support play. The BE scrum had a difficult time and their cause was not helped by the early shoulder injury to winger, DAVE BLOMILEY, which meant that PETER MOULTON had to move from Number 8 to the centres.

Even before that, BE had problems as they failed to put a hand on the home left winger who finished off a move, started in the home 22, to score a try inside the first thirty seconds. The first half continued in similar vein with Norwich breaking holes in BE's defence as well as dominating most aspects of possession, especially up front. They scored two quick tries, one converted, to open up a 17-0 lead, before the BE forwards went to sleep at a lineout five metres from their line, allowing a simple Norwich catch and touch down, the try being converted, to give the home side a commanding 24-0 half time lead.

LAURENCE SMITH must have given words of wisdom at the break as the 1st XV came out with an upbeat performance. Early on, a good left wing move saw GLYN BAYLEY storm down the wing to score a try which he converted himself. The next ten minutes saw BE gain in confidence but they failed to take one more chance when BAYLEY and MATT NICHOLAS combined again down the wing. It was very unfortunate when Norwich scored a try, also converted, but this proved to be the restart for the home team who ran in two more tries, one converted, but BE kept going and could, probably should, have had two more tries for their efforts but passes were narrowly wide or deemed slightly forward, at critical times. The forwards continued to fight for every ball, none more so than RICKY STEVENS and MATT CHAPMAN who had storming games in the back row. More match details, and some photographs, on Norwich's website(www.lionrugby.com (select Match Report).

It is back to League duty on Saturday when BE (fourth) host third placed London Nigerians - kick off is 2.30pm

PGY