Norwich 36 Letchworth GC 15 THIRD place in Powergen London Two North is looking unrealistic for the boys from Baldock Road. Despite going down to their biggest defeat of the season, including playing a dreadful 20 minutes in the third quarter, Letchworth

Norwich 36 Letchworth GC 15

THIRD place in Powergen London Two North is looking unrealistic for the boys from Baldock Road.

Despite going down to their biggest defeat of the season, including playing a dreadful 20 minutes in the third quarter, Letchworth still remain fifth in this tough division with other results going their way.

It now seems unlikely that they will leapfrog Norwich who had classed Saturday's visitors as their bogey side for the past two years and were out to prove a point.

For the first 40 minutes it seemed Letchworth could again spoil the party despite their ever-growing list of injuries which saw three first team selections including skipper Paul Hughes unable to complete training on Thursday.

Within five minutes Letchworth were camped deep in the Norwich 22. The first two scrums saw the pack thrust the home side back five metres and on the second occasion the ball moved quickly to give Ian Smith the space to crash over in the corner. James Tirrell missed a difficult kick.

Norwich replied with some good phases of play which ended with full-back Woollams breaching the Letchworth line and Young converting.

But the sides were still evenly matched at this stage and Tirrell added a penalty just after Tim Gray had again limped off with a recurring injury.

The rest of the half remained scoreless and fairly uneventful apart from cards issued to Jaggi Johal and Norwich's Shaun Woodhouse.

Letchworth were not prepared for the early second-half blitz from Norwich as their pack steamrollered the visiting pack - a rare event indeed - and Barry O'Sullivan went over for a try that Young converted.

The next 12 minutes saw Letchworth leak points like no other time in the season as Ball sped over in the corner with three players clinging on to him.

Letchworth restarted but the boot of Coker put them deep in their half again and they lost their own ball on their own line for Alan Turner to score.

They pressed again from the kick off but a lucky boot from Norwich completely fooled the backs and speedy flanker O'Sullivan fed the ball to Young who crashed over for a try that he also converted.

Letchworth at last woke up and the last 20 minutes was spent battering the Norwich line.

Darren Spillane especially was nearly over on two occasions.

Again Norwich turned the ball over and booted the ball downfield.

The diminutive Tirrell was faced with five Norwich players bearing down on him and Joe Bugg scored to kill the game entirely.

In fairness Letchworth never gave up and scored a penalty try at the death which Tirrell converted.

Their next game is the visit of London Nigerians this Saturday (3pm ko).