Bury St Edmunds' streetwise rugby team overturned a young, brave and well-organised North Walsham Vikings side by scoring eight tries, most of them in a short period before half-time (final score 50-17).

On a very hot day, it was the Vikings who had the best of the opening period. Dudley was pressing the accelerator and it looked like the lively visitors were outthinking their more experienced opponents.

North Walsham opened the scoring when captain Smith surged into Bury territory and passed to Dye.

Bury didn’t need a second warning, pulling level three minutes later and into the lead straight from the restart.

By half-time they had five tries and complete control of a game they had been losing a quarter of an hour earlier. The score at half time was 31-5.

It seemed that Bury would now enjoy complete control, but the next two tries were scored by North Walsham in a lengthy period where they also pressed the home side’s goal line on several occasions.

Dye scored his second from what appeared to be a well-rehearsed penalty move, and Steward finished off a bizarre sequence of events that owed much to L. Langridge’s run. 36-17

Bury are a robust opponent and didn’t want the Vikings to get their bonus point fourth try.

Twice the home side had the ball over the line, but both times Viking defenders prevented the ball being grounded; and twice they managed to complete the scoring move through forwards Jeffrey and Grigg-Pettitt. 

The young Vikings team performed very well for long periods, but Bury’s purple patch and an ability to score a high percentage of their chances saw the home side safely through.

The Vikings' director of rugby Niall Lear praised Dudley, who excelled at No.10 after moving from No.9.

He also singled out Smith, playing his 101st match, for praise.