North Walsham must face life outside the National League

North Walsham's relegation from rugby's National League has been confirmed after they were beaten 52-12 at Ealing on Saturday.

The defeat brings to an end the club's 18-year run in the National League.

The Vikings are second-bottom of Division Three South but with one match to go they cannot be saved.

Walsham Head Coach Dave Smith told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I apologise from the bottom of my heart for what's happened this year."

It means that North Walsham will return to the London League next season, just two years after they came within a point of winning Division Three South but missed out on promotion on the final day of the season.

These guys have travelled 9,500 miles this year and put in the hard yards and they don't get paid for it North Walsham coach Dave Smith

The Norfolk side have a much smaller budget than most of the teams in the division and Smith felt that was a significant factor in their demise:

"This is a semi-pro division and we are an amateur club.

"These guys have travelled 9,500 miles this year and put the hard yards in and they don't get paid for it," Smith added.

The Vikings have managed to win just six of their 25 league matches so far this season and have spent much of the campaign engaged in a relegation dogfight.

After losing that battle coach Dave Smith pointed out that Norfolk's rugby community will have to pull together if a club from the county is to get back into the National League.

"You need an input of money if Norfolk wants a National League rugby club.

"The whole county must push towards one of the clubs being in the National League but we mustn't be parochial about what we do."