Fakenham's fifteenth league game of the season saw them host March Bears at the Stringer Ground. March won the reverse fixture 34 - 29 in a close fought encounter at the end of October, so Fakenham were looking to make amends.

Whilst it was chilly for the spectators, there was no rain and little wind, making it perfect conditions for a good game of rugby in the depths of winter.

The away side drew first blood, winning a penalty in front of the Fakenham posts, just outside the 22, after five minutes. They slotted it to take an early lead.

Ten minutes later March had a penalty inside their 22, this time kicking for touch. However, they didn't quite make it and Fakenham ran the ball back. A loose ball bobbled towards the March try line, with flanker Josh Sperring quickest to react, hunting it down before diving on it. He popped it up to scrum half Harry Richardson from the floor, who happily dived over the line. His half back partner Lloyd Marshall slotted the straightforward conversion from just to the right of the posts.

Midway through the first period, March looked to play the ball out from just outside their 22. However, outside centre Aaron Tagg intercepted the ball, cantered over the line to dot down underneath the posts and extend the home side's lead. Marshall's simple conversion made it 14 - 3.

It was not long before the away side hit back. After a few solid phases in Fakenham territory, a March forward hit a good line to go through a gap in the defensive line and made it to try line, diving over. A successful conversion followed to cut the lead to 4 points.

However, Fakenham extended their advantage five minutes later. They had a lineout on the left, 5m from the March try line, which they won before popping down to Richardson coming through at pace. He crossed the line untouched for his second try. Marshall was unlucky to see his conversion attempt cannon back off the upright.

With the last play of the half, March had a scrum in front of the Fakenham posts. They carried it right from the base and went through a number of powerful forward phases, before eventually crashing over. The conversion fell just short to leave the half time score 19 - 15.

With the game in the balance, the cliché of the next score being pivotal was appropriate and it was the home side that got the first points of the second half. Attacking from their own 22, a number of strong Fakenham carries took them deep into March territory. Then, from ten metres out, the players put together some impressive interplay, with a number of offloads in one phase putting Marshall through to score on the right. He proceeded to convert his own try.

Quarter of an hour into the second half, Fakenham scored again. They attacked from half way, with Murray Tindal, now in the centres after starting at number eight, crashing it up. He got an impressive back door offload away as he went to ground to put his centre partner Aaron Tagg into space. He carried hard to suck in a couple of defenders before offloading to substitute winger Ashley Stewart, who kicked it through. With a number of players chasing, it was full back Trent Stoltz who got their first, hacking the ball beyond the try line before diving on it. Marshall was unsuccessful with the conversion on this occasion.

Just five minutes later Fakenham were attacking in the March half once more. However, the away side turned the ball over and went on the counter attack. A strong carry took them into the Fakenham half before an offload to the March scrum half. He showed impressive pace to break down the wing and dive over in the corner. The conversion was missed to make it 31 - 20 midway through the second half.

Fakenham recovered the ball from the restart and worked it wide to the left. A number of carries took them close, before Tindal showed his combination of pace and power to get past a couple of defenders and dive over on the right. Marshall nailed an impressive conversion, with second row Pat Casey stating his surprise at this.

The home side maintained the momentum, as substitute Howard Kellock took the restart with an impressive catch. He followed it up with a strong carry down the blindside before freeing his hands to offload to Casey as he went to ground. Some textbook draw and pass followed, as Casey gave it back inside to flanker Rob Ward, who then committed the final defender before freeing winger Jack Bryan Green to sprint in and dive over in the corner. Marshall couldn't add the difficult conversion from the touchline.

Despite continued endeavour from both sides, there were no more scores in the final fifteen minutes. The final score was 43 - 20, a great result for Fakenham to overturn the outcome from the previous game.

The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match went to outside centre Aaron Tagg, who was dominant in the tackle but also destructive with ball in hand.

Thanks to Katering 4U for the teas enjoyed by the players.

Thank you to James Peeling for the match photos.

Next week sees Fakenham travel to Wisbech, hoping to overturn the 10 - 22 defeat they suffered at the Stringer Ground in October. All travelling support would be greatly appreciated.