Fakenham Foxes 10 Leighton Buzzard 8 - 27th February 2011
Fakenham Foxes hosted Leighton Buzzard in their last league match of the season. Both teams fired up and ready with full squads.
The game started and both teams took a while to settle. The Foxes gave away an early penalty and Leighton kicked for posts putting the first points on the board 0-3. The Foxes defence was good and hard tackles were made. The Foxes pressured but couldn’t break through and score. Leighton made mistakes but the Foxes were not winning scrum so the advantage was lost. Leighton caught the Foxes off guard and made for the line but Sandie Toher held the ball up and denied the try. HT 0-3
The Foxes made a few changes and were determined to turn the game around. Leighton passed quickly through hands and the winger broke free from half way and score. The Foxes finally woke up and started to stick to their game plan; they kicked for territory and won the lineout gaining precious ground. The Foxes took the ball into a driving maul then released to Amber Wadlow who shipped to Kym Kendle coming through at pace and passing on the inside for Sarah Wheelhouse to score. Leighton playing well but beginning to tire so the Foxes used their experience to take control. Leighton gave away a penalty close to the line. Mandy Warren took the ball in then Rachel Forrest picked up popped to Kym who crashed over the line. A well matched entertaining game of rugby which both teams enjoyed. FT 10-8 Players of the Match: Kym Kendle and Julie Wilkin
Fakenham Foxes 7 Chelmsford 24 - 6th Feb 2011
Fakenham Foxes took on Chelmsford in a top of the table clash.
Chelmsford settled immediately and scored an early try from a scrum close to the Foxes line. The Foxes came back at Chelmsford but to the Foxes frustration the visitors had an answer for all their moves and attacks. The Foxes tackled hard and defended well. Chelmsford were so quick up in defence the Foxes did not have room to play. The experience of the Chelmsford backs allowed them freedom to move the ball quickly and score again before half time. 0-10
The Foxes played better in the second half but Chelmsford’s speed meant another two tries were scored and converted. The Foxes reshuffled positions and were determined to get something out of this game. The Foxes started to make the right decisions and made clear calls. Sarah Wheelhouse kicked to touch twice and made ground for Sandie Toher to steal possession in the line out. Chelmsford passed the ball near to their try line and Hannah White made a perfectly timed interception to break through and score, which Sarah Wheelhouse converted. The Foxes pressured hard and Chelmsford started making mistakes. The Foxes realised they had left it too late to win but were hungry for more tries and continued to pressure. Unfortunately the game was stopped 7 minutes early due to a Chelmsford injury. Final Score 7-24
Players of the Match Hazel Bridges and Amber Wadlow
Fakenham Foxes go top of the Eastern 3 League! Fakenham Foxes 51 Stanford 0 – January 23rd 2011
Fakenham Foxes took on Stanford at home in cold and windy conditions. The Foxes fired up and ready for the game took the kick off but Stanford came back at them and it took the Foxes a while to settle. Mandy Warren picked up at 8 and took play blind with wing and full back support, the ball was taken in and given to full back Jude Yarsley who drove players over the line to score. The Foxes soon realised Stanford’s weakness and played quick ball to Kym Kendle on the wing who powered from halfway to score. The forwards were solid which allowed the backs moves to work. Katie Wheelhouse at 12 ran an excellent line and broke the defence to score. Stanford still battling on but Just before half time the ball was shipped across the pitch for Jude Yarsley to come into the attack and score again. Kat Smith making her debut for the Foxes putting in some great tackles. HT 24- 0
The Foxes took control in the second half and stole line out and scrum which enabled the Foxes to attack and pressure Stanford. The Foxes took play across the pitch through hands to Kym kendle who smashed past two players to run clear and score. Hannah White at 13 was strong throughout on attack and clinical in defence. Amber Wadlow at 9 seeing a gap in the defence seized the opportunity and made a speedy run to score. Tactical play saw Katie Wheelhouse again take the inside ball to crash clear and score. Stanford still tackling hard and rucking well but could not get past or stop the Foxes. The Foxes enjoying their rugby continued their focus and Amber Wadlow broke again and made a tireless run to score. Just before the end Kym Kendle smashed into contact and placed the ball back for Captain Mandy Warren to slyly pick up step over and run blind, Stanford unaware could only turn to watch the ball being placed under the posts. FT 51-0 Players of the Match: Kat Smith, Jude Yarsley, Hannah White.
16/1/11
Deeping 12 Fakenham Foxes 5
Still on a high from last weeks win the Foxes travelled to Deeping determined to put in another solid team performance. The Foxes had a squad of 16 but had to match Deeping at 13.
The Foxes kicked off and applied early pressure. Deeping putting in hard tackles to stop the Foxes scoring. After ten minutes of relentless attacks Amber Wadlow made a break and was tackled just short of the line, Lizzie Groom picked up but the ball was grounded just touching the dead ball line and disallowed. Emily Park hooked well and the scrums were strong. The Foxes lost focus for a moment and Deeping took advantage and scored a break away try. The Foxes disappointed at half time as they had all the play in the first half. HT 7-0
In the second half the Foxes hit the rucks with force and Rachel Forrest put in powerful tackles all game. Deeping defended well and the Foxes couldn’t break through. Deeping got a scrum near the Foxes line and passed through hands to score in the corner. The Foxes determined not to give up made a clever move and the ball was shipped to Kym Kendle who ran past the defence to score. The Foxes kept up the pace but when they got close the opposition unfortunately went down with injury. The Foxes nearly scored again from a well timed kick from Sarah Wheelhouse but the Deeping defence got there just in time. The game was stop start and the Foxes couldn’t get their momentum going. They battled to the end and it was so frustrating for the Foxes as they played good rugby and lost. FT 5-12
Players of the Match: Rachel Forrest and Sarah Wheelhouse
Sunday 9th January 2011
Fakenham Foxes 15 Peterborough 5
The Fakenham Foxes Ladies rugby team took on Peterborough at Home. The last time the teams met the Foxes lost heavily, determined not to let this happen again the Foxes had extra training with Coach Rex Hargrave who is making a big difference to the team. The Foxes kicked off and put on some early pressure but Peterborough came straight back and the Foxes defended with strong tackles. The teams battled on but it was Peterborough who put the ball through the backs to score first.
Sarah Wheelhouse at 10 kicked with precision and made ground for the Foxes and Rebecca Sedgwick stole lineout ball to give the Foxes good advantage.
The Foxes set up a driving maul Rachel Forrest and Mandy Warren rolled round to set up a ruck, the forwards crashed in again to allow Mandy Warren to pick up and drive over the line to score. HT 5-5
The Foxes took control of the game using new moves from set play, ensuring the right calls were made and executed. Katie Wheelhouse covered 12 well and all the backs communicated throughout. The Foxes won the line out and the ball went from the backs to the forwards to recycle twice for Emily Park to pick up and dive over to put the Foxes in the lead. Peterborough came back with strength but the Foxes solid tackling prevented them breaking the defence. The Foxes powerful scrumming and great Hooking from Sian Jedrzejewski allowed 8 pick up and crash ball to give the backs space to ship though hands for Hannah White to Score. Peterborough were awarded a scrum near the Foxes try line but the Foxes had it covered and Elizabeth Groom put a diving tackle in to push them into touch. Kym Kendle covered the wing and made crucial tackles all game and Amber Wadlow had an excellent game at 9. FT 15-5
31st October 2010 Stanford Le Hope 10 – Fakenham Foxes 44
The Foxes travelled to Stanford and showed a solid team performance yet again, working together with finesse and force to secure a victory of 44-10. Right from the kick off Fakenham took the early lead with a try from Hannah White who was set up by Captain Mandy Warren from the maul. The girls weren’t stopping there and a quick penalty saw the ball get shipped across the pitch to Kym Kendle who powered through the defence, she then passed again for Hannah to score and Fly half Sarah Wheelhouse converted. Soon after Gemma Seville won the line out leading to a determined run from Kym to score the foxes third try under the posts, which was converted by Sarah. Just before the Second half Hannah scored again, from the securing of the ball from the forwards within the maul which gave Amber Wadlow the room to run and offload at a scoring opportunity. HT 0-22
After the half time break Stanford came back fighting and scored off the back of the scrum. Unfortunately the Foxes lost full back Jude to injury just after this. Hannah put more points on the board to counter Stanford from a driving maul that stopped just short of the line and Amber passed for her to crash over. A quick penalty saw the ball shipped blind for Amber to run onto and score Fakenham’s 6th try of the afternoon. Stanford dug in again though with a burst through to score their second try of the game. The Foxes were quick to show team spirit again and from the scrum the ball was recycled through the backs line for Sarah to score her first try of the game. Soon after some strong play to what should have been Bex Sedjwick’s first try of the season, however it was disallowed. Hazel Bridges made ground then taking the ball in to be passed out to the trio of Sarah, Mandy and Hannah, who supported each other the length of the pitch, popping the ball to one another leading to Hannah scoring her 5th and final try of the day. An outstanding performance from Hannah at 13. Amber settled well into her debut at scrum half. FT 10-44
Forward of the match Hazel Bridges, Back of the match Lizzie Groom.
Fakenham Foxes v Deeping 17/10/2010
Last time out the Foxes lost 76-0 to Deeping. The Foxes have been training hard with new coach Rex Hargrave working on their tackling and game plan to ensure this did not happen again!
From the kick off the Foxes pressured and put hard tackle after tackle in to prevent Deeping making ground. The large home crowd witnessed end-to-end entertaining rugby. The Foxes gave the opposition a lot to contend with but Deeping finally broke the defence to score. The battle continued but Deeping scored a lucky breakaway try before halftime and the Foxes lost influential 9 Megan Ryder due to injury. HT 0-10
The Foxes reshuffled and determined to play for Megan kept up the pressure and a clever kick from Sarah Wheelhouse from the back of the scrum allowed speedy Kym Kendle to collect and score.
The Foxes put tireless tackles in and great mauling gave them precious ground.
Deeping took play blind from the scrum and broke away to score. The Foxes heads still held high continued to play good rugby. The Foxes should have scored at least two but were denied close to the line. The Foxes allowed Deeping another before the final whistle. An outstanding team performance from the Foxes who’s game has vastly improved.
FT 5-22
Player of the Match : Gemma Seville
Foxes Win First league Match of the Season 10/10/10
Fakenham Foxes travelled to Leighton Buzzard for the first League game of the season in NC Eastern 3. The Foxes all fired up and ready for their first match with a game plan in mind.
From the kick off the Foxes pressured deep into Leighton’s half. A blow to the Foxes saw Helena leave the field with an injury only 5 minutes in. The Foxes re-focused and Megan passed to Katie from the scrum who ran a good angle and crashed through the defence to score. The Foxes capitalised on the opposition’s disappointment and Sarah kicked over the top for Kym to run on to and score. Leighton then woke up and came back at the Foxes some excellent defence from Claire and Jude denied them. Determined to get another before half time the Foxes passed the ball down the line for Amber to score in the corner. Excellent play and kicking from Sarah at 10 who converted all 3. Leighton attacked just before half time and scored. HT 5-21
In the second half Leighton had settled and the game was very evenly matched. Good work from both teams in the scrum and line outs. The Foxes took control in the mauls and captain Mandy frequently stole the ball. The Foxes conceded a penalty close to the line and allowed Leighton back into the game. The Foxes came straight back with a well timed pass from Sarah at 10 to Katie who then popped to Kym who smashed through to score. Katie made strong runs at 12 and Amber and Claire had great debut games. The whole team supported each other throughout.
The Foxes tiring allowed Leighton to break away and score. The Foxes found the strength and made a last attack and Kym popped to Jude on the inside to score. FT 19-33.
The return on influential Megan at 9 made a big difference and communication and game plan were key to the win. Players of the Match Claire and Katie.
An excellent start for the Foxes and as it was the Captain's Birthday the Foxes celebrated in style in Fancy dress.