Broadland consolidated their fourth place league position with a victory over Norwich Union, two late tries from Broadland secured another valuable win for the home side.

Since Broadland's promotion last year the Yarmouth based club has maintained a position in the top half of the league with its sight firmly on a top three place. Broadland's season is still very much in their own hands and with only four league games remaining there is everything to play for. Broadland fielded a virtually unchanged side to last week, the only change to the starting line up was teenage Prop forward Richard Bristo making a return to the pack.

Broadland kicked off and Norwich Union certainly had the upper hand in the early minutes. Sustained pressure from the Norwich side led to the opening score of the game as Union's centre squeezed through on the wing to score an unconverted try.

Broadland countered well with some excellent play from backs Stuart Murray and Matt Scott down the wing. Broadland's first break came in the form of a Union ruck, deep inside their own 22-meter line. The visitors won the ball cleanly and the ball was passed back for the expected clearance kick. However, the ball went loose and Number 8 Asa Morrison lunged forward and put in a soccer-style kick to send the ball over the goal line. The ball deflected of the Union centre and arched into the air, to be gathered by flanker Jay Prescott who dived over to Score Broadlands' opening try (unconverted).

Broadland and Unions packs locked horns and neither side seemed able to break the deadlock. Centre's White and Raven ensured that the gaps were kept closed in the centres and Forwards Bristo and Able put in some solid tackles in the centre. Broadland seemed to have the upper hand in the line-out and Hooker Andy Smith was connecting well at the front.

Union kept trying to utilise mauling play but Captain Andy Riches and Lock Jim Grey were providing the necessary disruption to prevent this. The half was played out with a midfield battle to which neither side really shined and both teams entered the half with 5 points apiece.

Coach Mark Frost elected for only one change at half time, with utility player Lee Durrant joining the Back Row. Union kicked off and the midfield battle continued: Prop Richard Bristo had a couple of bruising runs and Wing Johnny Clay had some excellent forays in to opposition territory. It wasn't until well into the second half that Broadland scored the second try. A Broadland line out deep inside Unions 22 saw Durrant make a clean catch, Riches cleared up and Broadland set a solid platform near to the side line less than 5 meters from the goal line. Scrum Half Burling showed his acceleration and agility as he took the ball blind and scored untouched in the clubhouse corner (unconverted). Broadland then made two further tactical substitutions with Mark LaCock and Iain Mackintosh both joining the centres.

Murray and Mackintosh both had attempts at penalty, as did the Union fly half, but the score line remained the same until just before the end. Broadland sealed the game with a try just before the final time whistle; with the ball deep inside the Broadland line Bristo and Prescott drove on: Burling laid the ball out to Fly Half Jago Jones-Rogers; Jones Rogers carried forward then spun the ball out to Centre Iain Mackintosh who ploughed through two tackles to score under the posts (converted Murray). The full time whistle sounded and Broadland had notched up another league win.

Next week Broadland travel to play Norwich based league leader Crusaders.

Tries : J.Prescott, R.Burling, I, Mackintosh

Conversions : S.Murray 1/3

Penalties : S.Murray 0/2 Mackintosh 0/1

Team: S.Murray, J.Clay, L.Raven, M.White, M.Scott, J.Jones-Rogers, R.Burling,,M.Beckett , A. Smith, R.Bristo, A.Riches (Capt.),J.Grey, P.Abel, J.Prescott., A.Morrison

Replacements Used: L.Durrant (40 mins) M.La-Cock (55 Mins) I.Mackintosh (62Mins).

Asa Morrison

- Fixtures -