Fakenham's final home game of the season saw them host North Walsham II at the Stringer Ground in a semi final of the Norfolk Intermediate Cup. The winner would go through to face West Norfolk in the final at the Norfolk Big Rugby Weekend.

North Walsham II are in the league above Fakenham, so the boys knew it would be a tough battle. A sold out pre match luncheon for former players, wonderfully catered for by Bayfield Catering, meant there was a large and lively crowd, ready to be entertained with some exciting rugby on a hot, sunny day.

Before the game, there was a minute's silence held for Rosie Stewart. She was an ever present on the touchline, wife of club stalwart Vince and mother to starting winger Ashley.

Fakenham received the kick off and cleared their lines. After a couple of minutes, North Walsham worked the ball wide to the left in their own half, where a bouncing ball caused confusion amongst the defence and the away side cut through to score on the left. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

It wasn't long before the home side got on the scoreboard themselves. A strong carry from inside centre Murray Tindal saw him break through on the right, before drawing the final defender and passing to the supporting veteran winger Tom Bane-Young, who had enough in the old legs to canter under the posts. Fly half and Captain Lloyd Marshall slotted the straightforward conversion to give his side a slender two point lead.

Marshall kicked the next points as well, as he nailed a penalty kick to extend Fakenham's lead. However, this was soon cancelled out as North Walsham kicked a penalty of their own.

Fakenham began to control the half and scored their second try ten minutes later. A strong Fakenham scrum set the platform for outside centre Aaron Tagg to run a great line back against the grain. He crashed through the initial line of defence before evading the final attempted tackle to score just to the left of the posts. Marshall again added the extras.

Shortly thereafter, Fakenham scored again, this time through the other centre, Tindal. He showed his own strength to power through the tackle and score. Marshall once more split the posts.

The last few minutes of the half saw North Walsham on the attack, but a strong defensive set from Fakenham kept them at bay until the half time whistle blew. The score at the break was 24 - 8.

The away side started the second half strongly, looking to wipe out the deficit. They scored just five minutes into the second half, though it went unconverted.

Another unconverted try followed, bringing Walsham within a score. However, the home side scored next to extend their lead. Marshall nailed a simple penalty from in front of the posts to extend Fakenham's lead to nine points, 27 - 18.

This penalty didn't stem the tide of the North Walsham attacks, as they rode the wave of momentum they had built. Two more tries, the second of which was converted, gave the away side the lead again for the first time since the opening ten minutes of the game.

There was not long left for Fakenham to find a response. A penalty gave Marshall the chance to kick for the corner, where the home side took the lineout cleanly and set up a maul. The pack showed great strength to power over the line where Ashley Stewart, who had moved onto the flank from the wing, was able to burrow over the line from the back of the maul. Marshall hit his most impressive conversion of the day, from wide on the right, to make his side's lead 4 points.

There were just three minutes left after the restart, which Fakenham managed to see out well. A forward pass from North Walsham as they looked to attack from their own half brought the game to an end. Fakenham ran out 34 - 30 winners.

A great result for Fakenham after a very entertaining game of rugby, met with delight by the crowd on the touchline. Thank you to North Walsham for a brilliant game played in the right spirit.

The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match went to loose head Shane Tilstone, who was instrumental in Fakenham's dominance at scrum time in the first half. There was special mention also to number eight Rob Ward, playing his final first team game at the Stringer Ground and was his usual rampaging self in the loose.

Thank you to Bayfield Catering for putting on the pre match luncheon that was so well received.

Thanks to Katering 4U for the match teas both sides enjoyed.

Thank you to James Peeling for the match photos.

With that win, Fakenham have extended their season. They will now contest the Norfolk Intermediate Cup Final at the Norfolk Big Rugby Weekend on Saturday the 3rd of May. Fakenham will be taking on West Norfolk at their own ground, so come along and support the boys as they look to regain the cup they lost last year.