Wisbech secure first win of Counties 1 Eastern Counties season with home victory over North Walsham Raiders

Wisbech withstood a second-half barrage from North Walsham Raiders to finally record their first win of the campaign.

The Men in Red finally got the monkey off their backs in Counties 1 Eastern Counties with a 35-20 victory 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.

Wisbech were a different, more controlled beast than in recent times.

Skipper Jack Malkin's communication with his teammates led to scoreboard development throughout the first half.

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.

Industrious Wisbech loosehead Luke Green delivered the first score of the match, and Malkin converted.

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.

A period of sustained Walsham Raiders pressure was eased with a terrific Josh Anderson turnover, and then Jiko Kianoco struck.

Taking an offload from hooker Nathaniel Humphreys, Malkin feigned and dummied before putting the big centre in for Wisbech's second try and Malkin added the extras.

Two more scores saw Wisbech pick up the four-try bonus point before half-time through Malkin and Johnson, Malkin on target with both conversions to make it 28-0 at the interval.

North Walsham Raiders refused to go away, showing tremendous character to throw everything they had at the Men in Red.

From a position of despondency, they raged against defeat with a scarcely believable rally.

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 were rewarded with a second try to narrow the score to 28-10.

The visitors sensed something special and two further tries made it 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 Garford through the gap and he sprinted clear for the Men in Red’s fifth and final converted try to seal a 35-20 win.

Luke Green, the returning Henry Lankfer and powerhouse Toddy Case were outstanding but dominant tackles from flanker Garford and centre 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 (3pm).