SOUTH Woodham Ferrers moved four points clear at the top of the London Three North East table with a 22-16 win over title rivals Norwich.

The match was switched to William de School after Norwich refused to play on the sodden pitch at Saltcoats.

And they initially seemed to like the new venue, taking a 7-0 lead with a converted try.

But, after that, there followed an extended period of Woodham pressure which lead to their first try in the 13th minute when the impressive Digga offloaded to prop Gittos who was hauled down just short.

However, he passed to flanker Searles to score.

Woodham were rampant at this point and Lockwood got the ball out to free scoring lock Wilson for another try and, in the 25 th minute, full back Levy came into the line to score in the corner to leave the score to put the home-side 15-7 ahead at half-time.

Norwich came out with real intensity and scored a penalty kick in the 52nd minute when Bull was sin binned after one offence too many at the ruck.

Norwich pounded the Woodham defenders during this period to try and take advantage of their superior numbers, but the defence stood firm, conceding only one more kick to cut Woodham’s lead to 15-13.

But with Bull restored the forwards drove a series of mauls towards the Norwich 22, which resulted in a penalty to Woodham.

Harper put that deep and, from the line out, the forwards rumbled forward, enabling Wilson to touch down.

Harper added the conversion to make it 22-13 before Norwich converted a penalty to secure their losing bonus point but by then Woodham had already done enough to secure the win.

>Canvey Island were also celebrating in London Three North East as they ended a run of four successive defeats by winning 27-8 at East London.

Tommy Gillingwater scored two tries for the Islanders while Tom Saunders and Charlie Clarke also went over.

Harry Coe added a penalty and two conversions as Canvey moved out of the relegation zone and up to ninth in the table.