Tries from Luke Green, Henrikus Stankus and 11 points via boot of Harry Newman

Wisbech 1st XV secured their fourth consecutive home win in the Greene King London 3 Eastern Counties League campaign with a 21-15 win over West Norfolk at Harecroft Road on Saturday afternoon.

Tries from Luke Green, Henrikus Stankus and 11 points from the boot of Harry Newman ensured the 'Men in Red' gained the bragging rights in the local derby.

The windy, wet conditions made it a scrappy start, with several knock-ons and skewed kicks making life difficult for both teams, but in the ninth minute the Wisbech forwards were rewarded with a penalty, Newman calmly slotted it over to earn a 3-0 lead.

Wisbech continued to build the phases putting West Norfolk under pressure earning Wisbech another penalty deep in the West Norfolk half, Newman again successful with the penalty.

But the visitors hit back on 27 minutes as they scored a unconverted try from the powerful driving maul, bringing them within one point. Within five minutes, from a ruck young Luke Green with Nico Steenkamp in support bundled his way over the line from five metres out before Newman added the extras (13-5).

On the stroke of half-time dominant forward play earned Wisbech another penalty in the West Norfolk half, Newman again successful with the kick, Wisbech going in the break 16-5 in the lead.

Wisbech defended a resurgent West Norfolk attack mainly thanks to a Shane Vickers intercept.

Wisbech then kept West pinned in their half. From a turnover the ball was quickly moved to the right an excellent pass found Stankus on the right wing to score in the right hand corner. Newman missed the conversion, 21-5.

West scored a try after a Wisbech lineout against the run of play, as their scrum-half intercepted a loose pass, 21-10.

Reduced to 14 men with skipper Solomon Prestige in the sin-bin for a technical foul, the visitors scored an unconverted try in the 73rd minute, 21-15.

From ensuing play Andy Claydon was shown a yellow card, reducing Wisbech to 13 men. Wisbech had to dig in deep in the final seven minutes, especially when Stankus was shown a yellow card for retaliation. But a valiant home defence was led by James Napier to hold on to a win.

Wisbech Round Table man-of-the-match: Luke Green.

Wisbech director of rugby Leonard Veenendaal said: “It was without a doubt our toughest game this season but we were under no illusions of the threat West Norfolk would bring

“The four week break certainly counted against us but I am so happy for the boys, they went out there and they put our game on the park. They rode out some periods where we were under some heavy pressure from a good West Norfolk side.

“We held them out and then obviously we took our chances when they came up. I’m really happy for the front five, they were really strong today and we came out on the right sides of the fine margins of London 3 Eastern Counties league rugby.”

Next up for Wisbech 1st XV is a visit to Norfolk side Crusaders while the Wildcats host St Ives in the county cup.