Dereham 24, Harwich 34Dereham came close to scoring an upset at the weekend as they took on highly-rated Harwich and Dovercourt. Dereham's captain, Scott Malcolmson said: 'Although I'm disappointed at the loss, at the same time the feeling in the team is good and we are starting to show we can live with the big boys and score points.

Dereham 24, Harwich 34

Dereham came close to scoring an upset at the weekend as they took on highly-rated Harwich and Dovercourt.

Dereham's captain, Scott Malcolmson said: 'Although I'm disappointed at the loss, at the same time the feeling in the team is good and we are starting to show we can live with the big boys and score points.

'We've got a huge test next when we play the league leaders Southwold away. But unlike them we have nothing to lose and everything to play for, and we'll be determined to ask them some difficult questions.'

Dereham were hoping to build on a strong performance the previous weekend when they went down fighting at Holt in the Norfolk Cup.

Malcolmson made one change in the pack at No 8 giving Rob his first league start in this position and stuck with Tribe at scrum half and a pairing of Fish and Chester in the centres to strengthen the defensive line.

But Dereham quickly found themselves chasing the game as Harwich's back line capitalised on any loose ball with pace and strength. Three converted scores and a penalty were on the board before Dereham really started to get into the game as Drewery slotted home the first Dereham points from long range.

In the lineout Dereham had the upper hand and when the ball was moved wide Ponder and Gant were finding some room and encouragement for their early efforts. Dereham forced a series of penalties close to Harwich's line, drawing a final warning from the match referee.

With some changes made going into the second half there was a need to up the home side tempo and disrupt Harwich's pattern of play and Edwards started the fight back with a quick tap from 15 yards out which caught the defence napping. Drewery added the extra two points. John Sutton pounced on a loose ball after pressure on the Harwich defence from Chester and Edwards and dived over for another converted try.

Having been taken aback, Harwich capitalised on a good counter attack to notch up another seven points.

It was no surprise when Morgan Gant showed his pace from the wing, and despite being caught just short of the line his momentum carried him over for another score.

Dereham continued to pile on the pressure up to the final whistle but couldn't do enough to recover from their poor start

The Dereham 2nd XV travelled to Broadland & Great Yarmouth II, were the first to put points on the board, but Broadland went into half-time 14-7 up.

Dereham gave away two penalties in their own 22, pulled a try back but eventually went down 23-17.

Dereham hope to continue improveing when they host Lowestoft & Yarmouth at Moorgate on Saturday 3pm.

On Sunday Dereham U13/14's played a competitive Swaffham team away and were 47-5 victors. This makes it back to back victories for the youth side in recent weeks. Man of the match was awarded to Tim Earp who played exceptionally well at prop.