Dereham 78, Lakenham Hewitt 0Following a free-scoring performance against Watton, Dereham returned to Eastern Counties Two action in similar mood.Despite a poor season, Lakenham had registered some much improved results of late, so Dereham had to be on their guard in their quest for valuable league points.

Dereham 78, Lakenham Hewitt 0

Following a free-scoring performance against Watton, Dereham returned to Eastern Counties Two action in similar mood.

Despite a poor season, Lakenham had registered some much improved results of late, so Dereham had to be on their guard in their quest for valuable league points.

Dereham's captain, Scott Malcolmson said after the game: 'We've seen improvements in all parts of our play in recent weeks. Losing Andy Brook last weekend with a badly broken wrist was a real blow as he's been one of our strongest performers all year. The team all wish him well and we were determined today that it wouldn't put us back and we'd continue to play good rugby.

'The team did Andy proud today and hopefully this result will cheer him. We can't afford to relax towards the end of the season as I want to climb the league and set our mark ahead of next year.

'Right now we are focused on Swaffham on Saturday. It's always a tough fixture and we really want to do the double over them this year.'

Lakenham showed much greater organisation and determination than when the sides met before Christmas.

Dereham had some early chances and worked their way against a strong wind into Lakenham's 22 area. But over-eagerness and early jitters saw the ball go loose and Lakenham cleared upfield.

A combination of scrums and line outs close to the Dereham line were well defended by the loose forwards and when Drewery and Pilbrow edged Dereham away from the danger area with a succession of line kicks the improved tight play gave the backs a solid platform to set Pilbrow through for the first try.

Dereham were looking composed in the scrum. With the front row of Gibson, Sutton and Canning keeping the set piece straight, Rob and Fish worked some well-rehearsed moves from the base to create room out wide.

Having lost Brook to a bad injury last week, Malcolmson moved up to the second row to pair Dunsire and Chester came in at open-side flanker.

The improved performance of recent weeks has been in no small part down to the quicker recycling of ball from the breakdown and this was in evidence again as Dunsire, Chester and Edwards linked up with the backs to keep the ball alive.

As Dereham got into their stride the floodgates opened and tries were scored in all areas.

Four tries from the wings, another for Pilbrow and one from Fish, two from Drewery at fly-half and Ledward in the centre wracked the score up.

The pack weren't to be left out as Sutton drove over from a lineout and Chester was first to the ball after charging down a clearance kick. Rob deservedly got on the score sheet from another back-row move.