Dereham 17, Broadland Great-Yarmouth 10IN their first league game Dereham immediately took the game to Broadland, with some big hits and strong running.

Dereham 17, Broadland Great-Yarmouth 10

IN their first league game Dereham immediately took the game to Broadland, with some big hits and strong running.

Gant came close to scoring twice early first half but was thwarted by the uneven bounce of the ball. Eventually the pressure paid off and Derbyshire calmly slotted over a penalty to make it 3-0.

Dereham maintained the pressure and right at the end of the first half, had a scrum five metres from the line. The pack gave one almighty push in which Dan Ponder at No 8 picked up to score. Derbyshire added the two points for 10-0.

In the second half Broadland came back strongly and won back a try, but again Dereham upped their game and after a long spell in the Broadland half the ball was moved from right to left to Jack Edwards. He ran in from deep from full back to power past two defenders and score his first try on his league debut.

Derbyshire was again slotted over the two points. Broadland grabbed one more try at the end. Next, Dereham travel to Essex to play Mistley.

Holt 10, Fakenham 9

Fakenham travelled for their second Eastern Counties One league fixture of the new season. The youthful 18-man squad needed to up their game after a disappointing first result.

Fakenham had the upper hand in both scrummaging and strength in the backs. The back line put the young Holt backs under tremendous pressure and forced numerous errors from which Fakenham's pack gained territory.

The Fakenham forwards showed much better cohesion and continued pressure saw Holt give away a string of penalties which saw three quick conversions. Holt came back stronger but some stiff tackling from Fakenham denied them three possible tries. However, Holt score a converted try.

Fakenham were awarded three more penalties within kicking distance, but failed to turn them into points.

The whole match was end-to-end and a hard-fought battle for the full 80 minutes. Fakenham conceded a penalty out wide in their own 22 in the last two minutes which gave Holt the narrowest of wins.

A performance Fakenham should be proud of with a bench mark to be built on with great passion and a tremendous work rate from all.

Dereham U17 71, Lakenham Hewett U17 14

IN the sixth minute Dereham posted their first points when lock Spencer powered over from close range. Evans converted a difficult kick from wide.

Slick handling in the backs set up centre Bessent who ran a great line to score under the posts (converted Evans).

Winger Fox was unlucky to have a score disallowed but Arron Fletcher on the opposite wing soon made amends with a sprint in to score in the corner (converted).

Lakenham pressured Dereham's midfield into a mistake in the 30th minute for a converted try.

Dereham captain, Affleck - who was controlling everything brilliantly from fly-half - then intercepted a Lakenham pass to score under the posts and convert himself. Another score came from No 8 Wright following a well-worked line-out.

The second half saw an early score for Dereham from second row Warren who showed tremendous power and pace. Again, Lakenham responded when their winger outstripped the Dereham defence to score under the posts. Following a superb long pass by Affleck, Bessent ran another great line to score under the posts (converted).

Warren again featured with another powerful score after the referee played a good advantage. Evans completed and capped an excellent exhibition of goal kicking. Bessent was not to be denied his hat-trick and finished off a great display with another five points - converted by Affleck.

In the closing stages, Fletcher and O'Conner both scored opportunist tries which they failed to convert themselves.