Last summer saw the Roosters travel very light for their fixture at Kings Lynn but with only 12 players they managed to come away with 2 points so they travelled back to Kings Lynn on Saturday with thoughts that the Black Knights would still be reeling and wanting revenge.

And revenge was on the cards after 5 minutes played as two quick tries saw Kings Lynn take an early 12 point lead. Roosters fought back though and used their first set of 6 tackles well to get close enough to the try line for Dave Sykes to go over with one of his trademark snipes from play of the ball. Converted

Roosters were again on the attack when good vision from Mickey Drake saw him throw a miss pass and hit Rhod Howcroft out wide, Rhod drew three men before offloading to the onrushing second row Mickey Blackley and with ten metres to go crashed over the covering defender to equal the try count. Conversion missed

Brothers Adam and Sam Peel had outstanding games and were a continuous threat to the opposition. Both made good yards with every carry and were unlucky to come away with just two tries a piece. Their tries were almost carbon copies, blistering pace matched with immense strength was too much for the Black Knights. At half time the score was 30-22 to the Black Knights.

Jack Blackley leapt like a salmon from the restart and won possession back for the Roosters, he then picked himself up and took the ball on again at the next opportunity and found Rhod Howcroft on a switch who beat numerous defenders before finding Jamie Noble in enough space to touch down for a well earned try, Noble was making his comeback after a lengthy break but it was like he’d never been away.

Roosters defence in the second half was much better organised and some huge hits from Rhod Howcroft, Mickey Drake and Aaron Throne kept driving the Black Knights back. Their determination to play up the middle was playing into Howcrofts shoulders and as quick as they ran straight at the Welshman, they were just as quickly sat on their arses.

Good yards were being made all over the pitch. Michael Adams, Tayler Knox and Jack Blackley were all instrumental in assisting David Sykes being able to make it 2 hatricks in 2 games with a further 2 tries from close range to match his first. Some were left frustrated by the lack of ball out wide but it has to be said that in a game as close as this one it really doesn’t matter how the points are scored.

The Roosters showed grit and determination in the final stages get the away win that their attacking performance deserved. Final score 40-46

A few youngsters were thrown into action for the Roosters and their efforts deserve a special mention. Josh Lofty came on at prop and made good yards with some explosive carries, Ollie Frestle came on and improved a tired Roosters defensive line with some big hits and at least 2 try saving tackles, Tom McNamara came on at hooker when Dave Sykes was sin binned for a high tackle and showed no sign of nerves and a huge amount of determination. Stefan Goslin, who started the game, played very well at full back and will be an asset in years to come.

Captain, Mickey Drake, said after the game ‘I am immensely proud of the boys, I told them at half time that if we carried on in the second half the same as the first and were a bit stronger and smarter in defence then we’d win. This is a good result away from home and a performance we will look to build on for next weeks fixture at Milton Keynes.’