LONDON 3 NORTH: Stowmarket 56 Wymondham 15

STOWMARKET sealed promotion against Wymondham with an emphatic victory.

After almost 11 minutes, Stowmarket put points on the scoreboard when, following a scrum on the 22 metre line, the ball was eventually transferred out to Dan Garrard.

He switched the point of attack to the blind side, where he found Robert Burch on hand to plunge over the line to give Tom Searles a difficult conversion attempt.

However, in keeping with his form of late, the kick sailed over the bar and between the posts.

Stowmarket added more points in a rather cautious first-half. Two penalties from Searles and a try scored by winger Jermaine Watson, successfully converted by Searles gave Stowmarket a lead of 20-0 at half-time.

The second-half saw Stowmarket take their collective feet off the pedal, and for a while, allowed Wymondham back into the game.

Wymondham scored within the first five minutes of the restart. Fortunately for Stowmarket, the visitors were not at their best with their kicking and the hosts now had the opportunity to press home their advantage, when Joe Fifield plunged over to score from close in.

Unfortunately, Searles managed to strike the upright with his conversion attempt.

Wymondham came storming back when their forwards drove strongly at a maul and forced their way over the line to close the gap to 15 points.

With just over 30 minutes left, young prop Gavin Rudland, having enjoyed yet another powerful game, was replaced by Chris Wilson, with Colin Clarke moving to prop to accommodate this switch.

Stowmarket increased their lead when scrum half Fifield managed to seize on a loose ball and nip over to score an important try which Searles was able to convert.

Within a couple of minutes, replacement Chris Wilson raced over to score an unconverted try to put the home team almost out-of-sight at 37-10.

Dan Garrard then raced over to add to the now rapidly increasing points tally. With the attempted conversion not being successful, Stowmarket were looking for even more points to bring their season to a successful conclusion.

The next try was scored by Stuart Hill and Garrard took over the kicking duties and was able to propel the ball over the bar for the additional points.

With only five minutes to go Wymondham crossed the Stowmarket line for a third time.

However, Stowmarket hit back and Peter Baird stormed over for the final try of this final game as Stowmarket clinched promotion.