Fakenham's eighth league game of the season saw them host Bedford Athletic II at the Stringer Ground. After a week off to recover some battered bodies, the boys were hoping to break a run of four successive defeats.

Last season these sides split the victories, both winning their respective home fixtures. As such it promised to be an exciting game to entertain the bumper crowd after the sponsors luncheon, thanks for all the support throughout the season. Thank you to Bayfield Catering for providing this.

After some initial pressure from the home side, it was Bedford Athletic that got the first score. Good defence from Fakenham pushed the away side back after they'd crossed the line, but a quick pick from the following ruck saw them power over. A good conversion followed from the right of the posts.

Ten minutes later, Fakenham got themselves on the scoreboard. A scrum on their own 22 was picked up at the base by number eight Murray Tindal (yes, you read that correctly). He made his way into the Bedford Athletic half before passing to the right, where a couple more passes from the backline put outside centre Aaron Tagg in space. He showed his pace to gallop to the line, avoiding the final attempted covering tackle. Fly half Lloyd Marshall was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt 15m from the right touchline, leaving them two points shy.

It was just a few minutes later that the home side took the lead. After a good break from scrum half Harry Richardson on the half way line, he set the team away down the left. Good interplay kept the ball alive and culminated in captain and blindside flanker Adam Lingwood running down the touchline unopposed, crossing the line and coming round to touch down underneath the posts. Marshall slotted the straightforward conversion.

After fifteen minutes of even contest, it was the away side that scored next, drawing level with an unconverted try.

Tindal acrobatically took the ensuing restart to put Fakenham on the front foot. After multiple phases involving a lot of the team, it was Tindal that finished off the move he started, scoring under the posts. Marshall added the simple conversion.

There was still time for one more try before half time. Bedford Athletic worked their way down the pitch, and a strong carry from close range by a big second row saw him crash over to score. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving it 19 - 17 at half time.

From the start of the second half, the away side went on the offensive, working their way into the Fakenham half. After getting through a number of phases, they worked the ball to the right where the defenders had run out, and dived over in the corner to retake the lead. The conversion attempt from out wide was unsuccessful.

Fakenham full back Trent Stoltz, on his return from injury, did well to take the restart and put the home side immediately back on the attack. The ball was then worked to the right, before winger Archie Mattocks picked up one handed from the base of a ruck on the 22 and showed his pace to run through the defense to score in the corner. Marshall could not add the extras from wide on the right, but Fakenham had gone back ahead regardless.

Ten minutes later, Stoltz scored a try himself to extend the lead. As Fakenham worked their way down the left, he cut a good line back against the grain to cut through the defense and dive theatrically underneath the posts. Marshall added the conversion.

A few minutes later Fakenham were awarded a penalty fairly centrally, between the Bedford Athletic 10 and 22m line. They decided to kick at goal and Marshall dissected the posts to take the score to 34 - 22.

The away side almost immediately cut that deficit. They turned the ball over in the Fakenham half and went on the attack. After going through the phases, they powered over from close range to the right of the posts. The conversion was missed just to the right.

Fakenham returned the favour, scoring again themselves straight away. They earned a free kick at scrum time on the Bedford Athletic 10m line, which Tindal tapped quickly and weaved through a number of players before dotting down under the posts. Marshall hit another straightforward conversion, giving the home side a 14 point lead.

Bedford Athletic continued to fight, scoring another try of their own soon after. As Fakenham looked to see the game out in their opponents’ territory, the away side countered from their own 22. Their full back ran it out, showing great pace to avoid a couple of attempted tackles and go all the way, scoring under the posts for an easy conversion.

With the home side now only holding a one score lead, things were tense. However they soon got another score to settle the nerves. Bedford Athletic had a scrum on the half way after the restart didn't go 10. Richardson did well to get the ball back for his side at the back of the scrum and set Fakenham on their way. Their attack ended when tackled into touch 5m out. Or so they thought. Evergreen tight head Rob Ward won the ball back at the lineout before powering over. Marshall’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

With only 5 minutes left, Fakenham were able to see out the game without any more scores, thankfully. This report is long enough.

The full time whistle was blown with Fakenham coming out 46 - 34 victors in a very entertaining, breathless, game, with the lead changing hands multiple times.

The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match went to best friends Murray Tindal and Harry Richardson. They were both instrumental in a lot of the good that happened in attack, as well as putting in some strong tackles in defence.

Thank you very much to Katering 4U for the match teas both sides enjoyed.

Thank you to James Peeling for the match photos.

Next week sees Fakenham take the long journey to Mistley. It promises to be another tough fixture but hopefully an entertaining one.