Fakenham Rugby Club suffer rare defeat

FAKENHAM were given a reality check as they were beaten by Eastern Counties Two high-flyers Thetford.

Fakenham travelled with a squad of just 15, but two players did not make it and they were forced to borrow two players and re-shuffle the team. This was a chance to see how far Fakenham had come this season and although Thetford were the winners, they did not have the game all their own way. Fakenham were missing a couple of key players but it shows they still have a great deal of training to do before re-entering the Eastern Counties league set up.

Fakenham II 27, Watton II 5

This match was a re-arranged Norfolk Merit Table game as the original fixture was abandoned due to a head and neck injury to a Fakenham player.

It took until the 24th minute for the deadlock to be broken when the Fakenham full-back, playing his first game for the club, failed to deal with a kick bouncing off his chest. Watton chasers scooped up the ball and scored a try which was not converted.

The hosts’ full-back atoned for his earlier error to level the score with a well worked try. On the stroke of half-time K Messenger scored for Fakenham and the goal was kicked by Joe Bane-Young making it 12-5 at the break.

Further tries from Josh Gee and Ackman Downing (2) completed the scoring in the second half.

This Saturday, Fakenham first team are away to Lakenham Hewett for a friendly, and the second team host Thetford II for a friendly. Kick-off for both games will be 2.15pm.