Wisbech rugby players secure league crown with a game to spare

Wisbech secured the 2022-23 Counties 2 Eastern Counties league title with a convincing 21-38 bonus point win at

Fakenham on Saturday.

Tries from Luke Hare, Luke Green, Ethan Garford (2), Gerhard Wessels, Will Boreham and four conversations from skipper Jack Malkin

ensured the men in red claimed the league title with a game to spare.

Wisbech director of rugby Leonard Veenendaal said: “Coming to at Stinger Ground is never easy and we knew Fakenham would be pose a tough challenge and they did not disappoint.

“We added extra pressure on ourselves with our poor discipline and the unacceptable penalty count against us, something we will address ahead of our final match against Cambridge.

“This win was a team performance from all 18 players, James Napier, Gerhard Wessels, Solomon Prestige and Ethan Garford were immense.

“But for the second week in a row young Luke Hare’s tireless work rate for the full 80 minutes earned him the Wisbech Round Table man-of-the-match award.”

The trio of George Overland, Zac Lakey and Tui Toro all came in to replace Kerrie McMullen, Harry Peters and Lewis Haddon.

It took two minutes for the first score, when Wisbech hooker Hare rounded off a strong attacking second phase. From the kick-off, Wisbech’s pocket-rocket Garford put his stamp on the game Malkin converted to give the away side a 7-0 lead.

A converted try and penalty saw Fakenham take a three-point lead – but the visitors hit back through Green.

Wisbech’s ill-discipline saw Fakenham awarded another penalty which they successfully kicked to put them back in front by a point.

A Fakenham try saw the score at 18-12 going into the break.

The men in red were quickest out the blocks after the interval and Garford scored following a stunning run with Malkin adding the extras.

Now leading by a point, Wisbech added another try minutes later through Wessels and the conversion was added.

A Fakenham penalty reduced the arrears to five points before came the familiar wave of Wisbech tempo, power and dominance.

Firstly, Boreham powered his way through the midfield for a converted try followed by Garford for his second.

Next up for Wisbech is their final league match away to Cambridge at Volac Park, under the lights on Friday (7.30pm).