If there was any doubt who was the better of these top two sides before this match, there is none now, as Norwich proved they are worthy table toppers
Individually for 75 minutes out of eighty there was nothing between these two very good sides. One could even say that Wold were definitely dominant in the scrum and had ample ball to attack throughout the game, but where Norwich were superior was in their defence and their game management, which when combined with taking their few opportunities to score when presented, saw them come out worthy winners
The wind was indeed a massive factor, spoiling play and causing handling errors, but because Norwich kept the ball tighter, often almost abandoning their back line and having what looked like a 12 or 13 man pack of forwards, they made fewer errors. They also missed fewer tackles and were simply magnificent in defence no matter how many times centres Bonner and Howell ran at them with strength and pace
Wold had the wind in their faces in the first half, but barely had the game started and they were five points down, but not because of the wind. From the kick off Wold started like they meant business, and drove fiercely at the opposition, but then a wayward offload to no-one let a flying Norwich attacker burst through totally against the run of play with no-one to beat. The kick from wide was missed but Wold had no-one but themselves to blame
Five minutes later however Wold elected to scrum eight metres out from the Norwich line , won great ball and were rewarded when Josh Crick dived over on the left wing to score. Wade had no chance with the conversion against the power of Dennis, but the score was now 5 – 5
The rest of the half saw Wold dominate possession through their pack, but no matter what they did they could not capitalise on that possession.
Norwich on the other hand were awarded four penalties on or about the halfway line during the half, and with the wind halving the equivalent distance
they were successful with two out of the four, one of which was inside their own half and the score at the break was 5 – 11 in Norwich’s favour
Given the wind advantage, and how well Wold had played in the first half, even the Norwich faithful suspected it may well be Wold’s game with the aid of Dennis behind them, but it was not to be as Wold failed to add to their score.
Norwich kept the ball close and tight and simply gave Wold little opportunity of possession, let alone scoring
15 minutes in to the second half after a long period of possession Norwich ran in a try wide right, for the only score of the half, as the conversion was again impossible, and that was to be the final points of the game at 5 – 16
Wold simply found no way past Norwich even in the dying minutes when two yellow cards saw the visitors down to 13 men.
No one could really understand why Wold did not make more use of the wind behind them, as they even tried to run the ball out from their own 22 on several occasions only for the wind to eventually take the ball from hand, whereas a kick for territory would have given an easy 40 – 50 metre wind assisted gain
Wold did have what seemed to be a perfectly good try disallowed with fifteen minutes left, the ball adjudged to have been held up, and maybe that try, had it have stood, would have made a difference, but who knows
Norwich were deserved winners, faultless in defence, and now look nailed on for promotion, whereas Wold must take a good hard look at themselves and consider what might have been if their game management in the appalling conditions had matched their undoubted individual talent

MOM The entire Norwich team as one unit