Visitors just fail to grab any bonus points

Ely 31 Fakenham 21 – London Counties 3EC

Fakenham travelled on Saturday fully expecting a tough encounter as the Tigers were in a top three position and had also beaten Fakenham in the home fixture in November.

Fakenham enjoyed a period of early pressure deep in the hosts' half but handling errors meant the pressure was not turned into points. Ely, in possession at their 22, drove forward and outflanked Fakenham to score a converted try wide out on the left; 7-0.

The visitors with swift handling engineered a break for winger Brett Stolworthy who scored, converted by Lloyd Marshall; 7-7.

Ely attacked down their left wing again and scored an unconverted try,12-7. In last-ditch defence, Murray Tindall received a yellow card for a high tackle and Ely made the extra man count , scoring another converted try, 19-7.

Fakenham fought hard, but a further Ely try was run in down the left, 24-7. Fakenham created an opening for Jordan Walker to break through and score a converted try to take the score to 24-14 at half-time.

Fakenham spent a long period in the home 22 metre area but received a second yellow card for another tackle adjudged to be high. Murray Tindall scored the visitors' third try, converted by Marshall, 24-21. Fakenham finally conceded a converted try. Fakenham put intense pressure on the Ely line but ran out of time trying to get their fourth try which would have given them two points for four tries and a losing bonus point.

Man of the Match Ashley Stewart had stepped up to playing front row for only the second time this season and he had held his own against a much bigger and more experienced prop.

Fakenham first team do not have a weekend game but Fakenham seconds play Wymondham Thirds away, kick-off 3pm.