Wisbech withstood a second-half barrage from North Walsham Raiders to record their first win this season.
Wisbech got the monkey off their backs with an exceptional win overturning a 39-7 away loss with a 35-20 victory over North Walsham Raiders at Harecroft Road.
The opening exchanges were as tense as one might expect from a home side scratching around for their first win this season, and an opposition trying to banish the demons of the past from last season at this ground.
Wisbech were a different, more controlled beast than in recent times.
Skipper Jack Malkin communication with his teammates led to scoreboard development throughout the first half.
The Men in Red threatened to go over the try line early in the game, only to fluff their lines – momentarily. Shortly after, veteran centre Gerhard Wessels scuttled through a hole in the Walsham Raiders defence but just couldn’t get the resulting pass away to the ever present Ari Baghdouyan cleanly.
It was only a matter of time though, and it was the industrious Wisbech loosehead Luke Green who delivered, from three meters out potentially dummying before powering underneath the desperate North Walsham defence for the first score of the match, skipper Jack Malkin converted, 7-0 to the host.
The visitors threatened the Wisbech try line a few times with some good phase play but the Men in Red's defence was as organised and calm as their attack, with Ethan Garford showing his worth at the other end in forcing a knock-on from the opposing centre.
A period of sustained Walsham Raiders pressure was eased with a terrific Josh Anderson turnover, and then Jiko Kianoco struck.
Taking a offload from hooker Nathaniel Humphreys, Malkin feigned and dummied before putting the big centre in for Wisbech's second try, Malkin converted to put the host 14-0 ahead.
With Wisbech in the ascendancy, they kept the pressure on and add another two tries securing the four try bonus point before halftime through Malkin and Johnson, Malkin on target with both conversion to take Wisbech into a commanding 28-0 lead into the break.
If Wisbech were impressive in the first half, they started the second with even more intent and at 28 points to the good, the game looked an awfully long way from remaining competitive.
But North Walsham Raiders did not go away, showing tremendous character they kept throwing everything they have at the Men in Red.
From a position of despondency, they raged against defeat with a scarcely believable rally.
With Wisbech being made to defend for long periods and being put under huge pressure, Wisbech end up with two players in the sin bin with yellow cards.
A galvanised Walsham Raiders pressure was rewarded with a try through their forwards in the right hand corner.
With Wisbech centre Wessels in the sin bin for persistent offside transgressions, the visitors threw caution to the wind attacking from everywhere was rewarded with a second try to narrow the score to 28-10.
The visitors sensed something special, putting the host under sustained pressure earned another penalty opting for field position kicked for the corner, from the well worked maul they were rewarded with a third try, the score now 28-15
The madcap nature of this cracker of a game continued, even if the scoreboard was afforded a breather, as the visitors managed to get their fourth try and a bonus point reducing their deficit to 28-20 and everything to play for.
After conceding eight penalties on the bounce, the Men in Red got the break they needed when Sam Anderson put Ethan Garford who had been threatening with ball in hand throughout the game through the gap, Garford's pace proved too much for the cover defence as the as the wing converted backrower sprinted clear for the Men in Red’s fifth and final converted try and seal a 35-20 win.
Luke Green, returning Henry Lankfer and powerhouse Toddy Case where outstanding but defence wins games and the relentless dominant tackles from flanker Ethan Garford and centre Gerhard Wessels led the way with the duo sharing the man of the match award.
Wisbech will again be at home on Saturday when they host Southwold at Harecroft road, kick off 3pm.
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