Thurston 22 - 8 Fakenham 12.03.22 London 3 Eastern Counties

The eighteenth round of London 3 Eastern Counties fixtures saw Fakenham travel to Thurston for the final league game of the season. Fakenham ran out 12 – 7 winners at the Stringer Ground in the first game of the season and were hoping for a similar result.

With the sun out the conditions were ideal for running rugby, much to the delight of the large crowd after the very well attended pre match luncheon. Games between these sides over the past few seasons have tended to be tight, physical affairs, and this was to be no different.

Both teams showed their attacking intent from the outset, moving the ball well between forwards and backs. The first couple of scrums went the way of Thurston, with their pack driving forwards. However, the Fakenham forwards adjusted well and there was parity at scrum time for the rest of the game.

Thurston scored the first points of the game part way through the first half. After moving the ball to their winger and captain wide on the left in space on the half way line, he made a powerful run, shrugging off a few attempted tackles before reaching the try line and dotting down. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

The remainder of the first half continued with both teams showing their attacking intent. However, the defences stayed on top and kept any more points from being scored. Fakenham had a couple of opportunities towards the end of the first half, attacking the Thurston line with their pick and go game, but a knock on ended one chance while a penalty for holding on put paid to another. The sides went into half time with Thurston leading 5 – 0.

The start of the second half saw Fakenham go on the attack. A penalty against Thurston in front of their posts gave Fakenham the chance to put some points on the board. They opted for the posts and full back Murray Tindal was successful with his attempt.

Thurston continued to attack well and similarly to the first half, it was a couple of Fakenham defensive mistakes that allowed Thurston through. Their captain and winger went over wide on the left again and the Thurston forwards turned on the power to score a third try. Neither try was converted though, to leave the score at 15 – 3.

Fakenham continued to fight, as they have throughout the season, and never gave up. After moving down the field once again, they were finally able to get the better of the resilient Thurston defence. After going through a number of phases, the ball was passed out to loosehed prop Simon Bygrave on the right, who put captain and second row James Howell in space to dot down for his first try of the season. Tindal couldn’t manage the conversion from wide on the right, but Fakenham were only 7 points behind.

As they were only behind by a converted try, Fakenham were hoping to score next and tie up the game. However, Thurston had other ideas and held onto the ball well, before scoring their fourth try of the game as it came to a close. One of the Thurston props showed impressive pace to find a gap in the Fakenham defensive line and run in under the posts from just outside the Fakenham 22. With the conversion successful and the game ending soon after, the final score was 22 – 8.

Thurston were deserved winners on the day, with their powerful running scoring them points and their defence suffocating the Fakenham attack. Fakenham were guilty of trying to move the ball wide too quickly. They showed great promise at times but were not clinical enough.

The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match was inside centre Luke Boynes. In his final league game for the club, he repeatedly carried the ball strongly and defended well throughout. A special mention goes out to Gareth Williams who played his first game for the 1st XV, coming on after ten minutes and playing the rest of the game in the second row, where he hadn’t trained or played before, and putting in a solid performance.

Fakenham 1st XV finished 7th in the league after a season of very mixed performances and results. They will be aiming for much more consistency next season.