Fakenham's nineteenth and penultimate league fixture saw them host Mersea Island at the Stringer Ground. Fakenham won the reverse fixture just before Christmas, but knew they'd have a tough game on their hands.

The rain stayed away, but there was a strong breeze running down the pitch, with gusts making lineouts more difficult. The crowd were not put off though, with another good turnout supporting the boys and enjoying an entertaining game of rugby.

Fakenham made early possession and territory count when given a penalty in front of the posts. Fly half Lloyd Marshall duly kicked the penalty to give his side an early lead.

Mersea Island fired straight back with a score of their own. A strong line from their number eight cut through the defense in the 22 and he crashed over to the left of the posts. A successful conversion followed as the away side took the lead.

Fakenham retook the lead shortly after through outside centre Aaron Tagg, with Marshall nailing the conversion.

Once more, Mersea Island shot back immediately. Two converted tries in the space of ten minutes meant they took an eleven point lead.

Just before the break, Fakenham cut the deficit. With the ball worked wide to the right, winger Ashley Stewart picked from the base and powered over from close range. This time the conversion attempt from Marshall was unsuccessful.

The half time whistle went with the score 15 - 21.

Mersea Island could not have started the second half better. They received the kick off, worked it into the midfield where their loose head showed impressive pace to break through before offloading to a player who ran through and scored to the right of the posts. The conversion was unsuccessful, but the away side were still two scores ahead.

Fakenham did their best to fight back, but an impressive rearguard action from Mersea Island kept the home side at bay. They had their own forays into Fakenham territory, but couldn't score either.

It was Fakenham that did eventually manage to get the next score. Full back Murray Tindal scored after catching a clearance kick on the half way and setting off, using his pace to evade defenders and then powering through the final tackle to reach and dot the ball down on the try line, just to the left of the posts. Marshall duly slotted the extras.

Fakenham scored again soon after. This time Tindal ripped a ball in the tackle just inside his own half on the right hand side. He immediately broke down the right wing, taking ground, and just before he was bundled into touch, managed to offload back inside to the onrushing Marshall. He showed his pace to get to the corner untouched and dot down. He couldn't convert his own try, leaving Fakenham with the slenderest one point lead.

The home side then extended their lead. A lineout drive on the right took Fakenham to within a metre of the line. The ball was then worked wide to the left where Stewart was waiting to run the ball in untouched for his second try. Marshall slotted an impressive, important, conversion from wide on the left to take his side two scores ahead.

Another penalty kick by Marshall extended the lead further.

Fakenham continued to press, with the forwards once again going close at the line. Inside centre Cam Baldock then decided to show his pack how it's done, picking the ball from the base and powering over to secure the win for his side. Marshall slotted the conversion from the left of the posts.

There was only a minute left to play, but Mersea Island made the most of it. They chipped through in the middle of the park, chased it down and dove on the ball as it crossed the line. The final act of the game was the conversion attempt that drifted wide.

The final whistle went with the score 44 - 31. An entertaining game for the crowd, played in the right spirit by both sides.

The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match went to replacement prop Martin Tagg. He came on in the first half and made a massive difference, with Fakenham's first scrum after his arrival from the bench driving their opponents back several metres. This platform was vital in helping Fakenham overturn the eleven point deficit.

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

Thank you very much to James Peeling for the match photos.

Fakenham's final league game is in two weeks, when they welcome Woodbridge to the Stringer Ground. Come along and support the boys as they look to finish the season strongly and secure an improved league position.