Fakenham rugby players end 2024 on a high

Fakenham’s 12th fixture of the Counties 2 Eastern Counties season saw them defeat Thurston 40-26 at the Stringer Ground.The home side came out of the traps quickly, scoring within the first few minutes, on their way to two five-point wins on the bounce.A Fakenham lineout 10 metres from the Thurston was thrown over the back to the onrushing number eight Rob Ward, who powered over the line with defenders hanging off him.Fly-half Lloyd Marshall nailed a decent conversion from the left-hand side.Just five minutes later, Fakenham attacked from their own half, putting winger Jack Bryan-Green into space on the left.He sprinted down the touchline, carrying into the Thurston half and committing the final defender before passing inside to full-back Murray Tindal, who cantered in to score.Marshall slotted home another conversion. The home side kept their foot on the gas and scored their third try within the first quarter of an hour. Tindal carried down the right before a lovely back door offload found winger Tom Bane-Young, playing his third position in as many games.He then found the final pass back inside to outside centre Aaron Tagg, who crossed the line towards the posts to finish off the score. Marshall hit his easiest conversion so far.Fakenham wrapped up the bonus point midway through the first half. Tagg broke into space down the left before finding Bryan-Green, who gassed in from just outside the 22 and dived into the corner. Marshall hit an impressive conversion from the left touchline.The away side did not give up, beginning the fight back right away. A lineout in the Fakenham 22 allowed Thurston to attack and, after several strong forward carries, their hooker powered over, dotting the ball down well under pressure. A successful conversion followed.Fakenham had the final say in the half though. A clearing kick from their five-metre line was cleaned up by Ward, who moved the ball in field where it was worked through the hands by the backline to put Tagg into space to score in the right-hand corner. In the final act of the half, Marshall missed his first conversion of the game, leaving the score 33-7 at the break.Thurston needed to score first in the second half and started exactly as necessary.Winning a penalty after the restart, they kicked to the left-hand corner and from the ensuing lineout set a drive that powered over the line. The conversion attempt from wide on the left was missed.Ten minutes later they scored again. Another lineout, this time on the right of the Fakenham 22, led to a free kick for Thurston. They tapped and went and, after a few phases, the forwards managed to power over the line.The following successful conversion took them within two scores, at 33-19.Ten minutes later they scored again following a scrum on the Fakenham five-metre line and the conversion was kicked.However, it was Fakenham who got the next score. A solid scrum just inside the Thurston half was worked to the backs and replacement Rob Owles, making his first appearance of the season, made a strong carry back against the grain, sucking in defenders.The ball was then worked wide to the left, putting Tindal in space, where he used his pace to get around the final covering defender coming across before running around towards the posts to make the conversion easier. Marshall duly added the extras.The Barsham Brewery Man of the Match went to second-row Matt King.The next game is in the new year, as Fakenham hosts league leaders West Norfolk at the Stringer Ground on January 4.