Fakenham Foxes v Wymondham 21/3/10

With a several players missing due to injury and unavailability, the Fakenham Foxes took to the field for a friendly against Wymondham.
The foxes were ready to take on a new game plan with players trying new positions. As soon as the whistle went Fakenham took the play to Wymondham and after some strong rucking from an excellent set of forwards, captain Mandy produced a good ball from the back of a scrum to set Katie free to run in the first try of the game. The Forwards controlled the game and saw hard rucking and mauling from Liz, Helena and Julie. Wymondham made strong runs through their backs but could not break the Foxes solid defence. Excellent line out jumping from Gemma and Phillipa helped create a base to set the backs free, space for Mandy was soon created to Score a well deserved try.

The second half started as strongly as the first had finished with the forwards totally in control of the game, with Rachel playing scrum half the forwards were thriving on crash ball powering all the way up the pitch, with the final ball being driven towards the try line by Dee, tackled short, popped a solid ball to Rachel to crash over under the posts. With less than 15 to play the Foxes did not cover a well taken penalty move allowing Wymondham to score 5 points out wide. The Foxes with heads held high and a point to prove in front of a great home crowd played tactical positional rugby, some punishing work from Ellie in the line out released the backs to eventually provide the powerful Kym a try which rewarded the solid tackling she had put in all game. Foxes defence was tight with Jude playing a clever game at full back. Wymonham played some good rugby and the Foxes look forward to a rematch.
Final Score 20-5  Players of the match Katie and Dee

Chelmsford 28/2/10
Fakenham Foxes travelled to league leaders Chelmsford in the South Eastern Division 3. This was only the Foxes second game of the New Year, previously playing Lakenham Hewett in a friendly.

With the team depleted to 13, due to injuries and unavailability, players were playing in unfamiliar positions.

The game started with pressure from the Foxes and the league leaders found themselves camped in their own half for the first 10 minutes. Chelmsford woke up and scored a try running it through their backs. However, with Foxes playing with nine forwards (two of which were playing in the backs), the team made good use of the rucks and mauls, only narrowly missing out on a score. Chelmsford scored a second try just before half time. 12-0.

In the second half, the league leaders made several changes and the fresh legs soon added to their score as the speedy wingers capitalised on the Foxes’ inexperience in the backs. Final score 50-0. Players of the Match Mandy Warren and Sarah Wheelhouse

Southwold 13.12.09
Foxes entertained a strong Southwold team in the RFUW NC South Eastern 3 Division. Due to unavailability, players were played in unfamiliar positions. As expected the visitors used their experience to put Foxes under pressure from the start. Despite excellent defending from Foxes, Southwold ran over six tries in the first half.

The second half saw Foxes play some strong defensive work. The forwards rucked and mauled tirelessly and the scrum half linked well with the backs. Despite soaking up pressure from Southwold, the home side kept the visitors at bay as they only managed two further tries, showing great determination from the Foxes. Final score 0-46.
Players of the Match Sandie Toher and Kym Kendle

Market Deeping 29.11.09
Fakenham Foxes played host to third placed Deeping in the RFUW NC South Eastern Division 3. Foxes, with a squad of 17, had to reshuffle players due to injury and the visitors travelling with just 14 players. Straight from the start the game was open with both teams penetrating deep into their opponents half. However, it was to be Deeping who took the first two tries of the match to go 12-0 up, despite excellent defending from Foxes.The deficit was closed after Holl kicked over the top. Kendal pressured the defence into making a mistake, for Larkin to pick up the loose ball. Half time 12-5.
The second half saw the experienced Deeping side test Foxes defence once again, with the visitors adding another brace of tries. Foxes replied after a quickly taken penalty saw the centres link well for Kendle to crash over.Despite Foxes producing a fantastic, encouraging display, they couldn't stop the opposing full back from adding to the Final score 34-10.
Players of match - Hargrave, Kendle, Holl, Yarsley

Peterborough 22.11.09
Fakenham Foxes travelled to Peterborough a team well established in the league with lots of experience. Foxes, with still some of the team only playing their second game, did themselves proud despite the defeat. An early set back to the visitors saw scrum half Larkin and captain Warren go off for treatment after a clash of heads. A reshuffle of the team saw some players moving to unfamiliar roles. Peterborough kept Foxes on the back foot for the majority of the first half, but restricted the hosts to a two try advantage at the break
The second half saw the team play some good rugby with good runs from the backs and the forwards gaining territory in the mauls. However, the experience of Peterborough and the occasional decision going against Foxes, saw the home team win 22-0.
Player of the match - Katie Mathers

Foxes First League Win away at Thames Toucanettes 1/11/09
Looking for their first league win of the season, Fakenham Foxes traveled to play Thames in the RFUW NC South Eastern Division 3.
Due to illnesses and unavailability, Foxes traveled with 13 players meaning Helena Cribbins stepped in as captain with usual influential captain Mandy Warren absent. Vicky Armes made her debut with a very encouraging performance on the wing.The game was open with both teams working hard to find a gap in the opposition's defence. However, strong defence by Foxes kept Thames at bay. With the game flowing from end to end, it was the home team who took the first points of the match as Foxes were caught napping at a penalty to allow Thames to score five points.
This was a wake up call that was needed as Foxes then started to dominate play as the centres linked well for Kym Kendle to run half the length of the pitch to crash over to bring the scores level before half time. HT 5 -5
The second half once again saw Foxes defend and attack well with good line out work from the forwards and once again Kendle scored five points after an unstoppable run from inside her own half. This was soon followed by Foxes fly half kicking deep into Thames' half for Hannah Stephen to score under the posts and for Sarah Wheelhouse to convert.Thames scored a controversial try late in the game, but this was to have no impact on the final result. A good all round team performance resulting in a deserved win FT 12-17
Forward of Match Stacy Hargrave, Back of Match Kym Kendle

Foxes Home League Debut v Chelmsford 25/10/09
Fakenham Foxes entertained last years league runners up Chelmsford in the RFUW NC South Eastern 3 and were looking to bounce back after their defeat against Southwold two weeks ago. Fielding a full team of 15, Fakenham immediately took control of the game and had the visitors camped in their half for the majority of the first half. The forwards worked tirelessly in the rucks and mauls with Sam Larkin playing only her third game at Scrum half linking well with the backs. Fakenham were unfortunate to not take the lead before the break after a succession of attempts - many of which were thwarted by illegal play by Chelmsford, one visiting player receiving a yellow card. Half time 0-0.
The second half saw the home team dominate play only for Chelmsford to get two breakaway tries. With 15 minutes remaining, Fakenham once again played some good rugby and once again Chelmsford had a player sin-binned resulting in Stina Thorarinsson slotting over the penalty. With time running out, and Fakenham continuing their pressure, captain Mandy Warren took a quick penalty to crash over for five points. With only two points separating the team and only four minutes remaining, the game had to finish early after an injury. Final score 10-8.
Fakenham will be disappointed with the final score, but can take many positives out of the game.

Foxes League Debut at Southwold 11/10/09
Fakenham Foxes travelled to Southwold for their South Eastern 3 League debut. The Foxes knew it would be a hard task as Southwold are a well established league team and for many of the Foxes it was only their second game. Southwold took advantage of the Foxes inexperience and used their pace to score tires down the wing throughout the game. However, the Foxes had spells of pressure deep in Southold’s half and should have scored but could not break the solid defence. The Foxes are proud to say that they did not allow tries through the centre of the park and the forwards dominated in the scrum winning all except two.  Both teams enjoyed the game and the Foxes communicated well and oozed in team spirit throughout.
FT Southwold 58 Foxes
Players of the Match: Sandie Toher and Sarah Wheelhouse