Fakenham's sixteenth league game of the season saw them make the long trip to Mistley, taking sixteen players as availability issues reared their head.

Fakenham won the reverse encounter earlier in the season, a tight 18 - 16 affair at the Stringer Ground in wet November. Fakenham were looking to back up their win from last week, whilst Mistley were aiming to overturn the result from a few months ago.

The home started strongly, with two tries in the first ten minutes, one of which was converted.

Twenty five minutes passed before another score. This time it was Fakenham's turn, scoring two quick fire tries through full back Tom Bane-Young and second row and captain Adam Lingwood. Fly half Lloyd Marshall slotted both conversions to give the away side the lead, 12 - 14.

Just before half time, Mistley retook the lead through their third try, adding the conversion to go into the break 19 - 14 ahead.

They extended their advantage soon after restarting, getting their bonus point securing fourth try and adding the conversion.

Fakenham hit straight back, through flanker Jack Bryan-Green. Marshall nailed the conversion once more, to bring his side back within a score at 26 - 21.

However, Mistley scored in response almost straight away with an unconverted try. Two more unconverted tries followed over the next fifteen minutes as Mistley built an unassailable lead to secure the win.

Nonetheless, Fakenham weren't finished with the game. They scored their fourth try and secured a bonus point to take something from their long trip. Bane-Young’s second try of the day was converted once more by Marshall, giving him a flawless record off the tee.

There were no more scores before the end, so the final score was 41 - 28. A deserved win for Mistley, but Fakenham showed brilliant grit and determination to get a point from the game.

There is no game next week, with Fakenham returning to action at the Stringer Ground in a couple of weeks, hosting Wisbech on the 21st. Please come down and support the boys in what promises to be another exciting contest.