Wisbech suffered a bitter defeat on Saturday, March 2 when they were beaten 21-35 by Southwold at Harecroft road.

An improved performance from Leonard Veenendaal's men was the only positive to take from a match that the Men in Red struggled to get a dominant foothold in.

Despite the result, a competitive performance showed Wisbech are able to compete in this league showed glimpses of what they are capable of. 

Wisbech withstood pressure from the visiting early on, as both sides looked to break the deadlock.

Southwold crossed for the opening points with a converted try to take a 7-0 lead.

Wisbech’s discipline began to falter giving away two consecutive penalties, the visitors converted to stretch their lead to 13-0.

Despite Southwold taking control, it would be the Men in Red who would score next to fight their way back into the fixture.

Wisbech Standard: Try scorer and man of the match Sam Anderson.Try scorer and man of the match Sam Anderson. (Image: Andy Titmuss)

Wisbech stinging together several phases, the ball was shipped to centre Gerhard Wessels who stepped his way through the defence before find his in-form centre partner Jiko who in turn beat two defenders to dot down.

Skipper Jack Malkin converted on the angle to add the extras reducing the visitors lead to 7-13.

Wisbech's comeback was short lived as Southwold responded with another two tries, half time and Southwold led 25-12 at Harecroft road.  

Wisbech's Men in Red were slow out of the starting blocks in the second half and Southwold made them pay with two unconverted tries securing their bonus point giving Veenendaals’ men a mountain to climb.

Heading in to the final 20 minutes, Wisbech took control, however, a catalogue of errors in attacking play saw the Men in Red score one further converted try before the final whistle. Henry Lankfer was the scorer, but it wasn’t enough to get the team the bonus point they feel they deserved.

The final score, 21-35.

Wisbech Standard: Talisman centre Gerhard Wessels on the break.Talisman centre Gerhard Wessels on the break. (Image: Andy Titmuss)

Speaking after the game, Wisbech Director of Rugby Veenendaal said: “We made our own problems through ill-discipline that put us on the wrong side of the referee and that that’s not good enough, but we have some positives to take from the result.

“With six key players out with injury, a further four unavailable and two withdrawing on the morning due to illness, it was always going to be a big ask but I have to credit this squad who have stuck together throughout the season and have been highly competitive in every match.

“The players who have stepped up continue to grow week on week, with commitment pride and passion and I can ask for no more.

“Several players put their hands up, the man mountain Luke Green continues to impress, Henry Lankfer and Brad Williams got through a lot of work, Bull Tagicakiverata on his return was excellent, Gerhard Wessels and Jiko are in a fine vain of form and Charlie Talmage's two try saving tackles where fantastic but Sam Anderson was outstanding, securing his lineout ball, solid in defence and carried relentlessly for the full eighty minutes earned him the Man of the Match award." 

Next up, Wisbech welcome high-flying Ipswich to Harecroft road on Saturday, kick off 3pm in a back to back league fixtures which will see the Men in Red return to Humber Doucy Lane the following Saturday for a weather enforced rearranged fixture from November.