Dereham added another fine win to their season collection at Beccles II, writes Tim Evans.

A strong-looking home team took to the field hoping to put a halt to Dereham's fine run of recent results and they certainly took the match to the visitors in the opening exchanges.

The Dereham team had to be on their mettle to repel the early attacks and an excellent relief kick from Isisar Bobo was most welcome. Having weathered the early storm, it was Dereham who opened the scoring when stand-in fly half Harry Graham ran in after a series of good pick-and-drives from the visitors.

Beccles almost replied immediately with a good kick and chase but full back Brett Stolworthy was alive to the threat and covered well. Dereham were on the front foot in the 15th minute, winning a lineout and feeding second row Richard Dunsire who showed a good step inside to score. His second try of the match was to follow when Jason Harris made an excellent break on the opposite side and he collected the offload to score.

Beccles were not about to lie down however and forced the visitors into conceding several penalties resulting in Rhys Leeder receiving a yellow card for handling in the ruck. The home team took immediate advantage and scored in the corner.

The Dereham scrum was more than holding its own and from the back, scrum half Bobo exploited an unprotected Beccles blind side to run in from 30 yards. In the final play of the half, he cleverly saw another gap in the home defence to outstrip everyone and score under the posts.

Dereham's play in the loose from the restart was excellent and having won yet another line-out, fly half Graham chipped and chased for a great score.

Another heavy pitch this week saw the away team forwards beginning to dominate now and from another line out, loose head prop Marcus Evans powered over in the corner in the 50th minute. An injury to flanker Connor Clarke saw him leave the field minutes later but this made little difference to the away team who were now camped in Beccles' half.

Considering the conditions, Dereham were playing some expansive rugby and Davies broke strongly and offloaded well for Graham to score under the posts.

The try of the game followed when Leeder fed man-of-the-match Bobo on his own 10-yard line and he eluded all tackle attempts in a 60-yard break to score a brilliant solo try to complete his hat-trick. Dereham's final score came from a great effort from their forwards who pushed over.

Victorious skipper Dan Ponder said: 'It was a pleasure to captain this side. Everyone played their part this afternoon and Bobo's all-round performance was outstanding.

'We look forward to playing Broadland at home next week in a match which could well decide who lifts the title this year and it would be great if we could have as many supporters as possible at Moorgate Road to cheer us on.'