Mixed fortunes as March Bears are thumped while Wisbech Grammar School triumph

THERE were conflicting fortunes for different generations of Fenland’s rugby players against local rivals Ely last weekend, as March Bears crashed to a heavy defeat while Wisbech Grammar School recorded a crushing victory.

A depleted Bears side limped to an 87-3 defeat away to a dominant Ely Development XV, while the talented youngsters at Wisbech Grammar School smashed King’s School Ely 69-7.

A Matty Day penalty was all the Bears had to cheer about, as the pace of the Ely backs tore holes in their defence.

Skipper Aaron Boxall said that although it had been a tough start to the season, he was happy with the commitment of the players who kept turning out for the Bears.

Club Chairman Barry Feetham said: “It’s just one of those things. All their tries came through the wide areas, showing that their pace and fitness levels were a little bit better than ours.

“It’s the development that we are looking at, it’s a long-term thing. You’re going to get setbacks, but if you keep plugging away then the results will come.”

But while March’s senior side struggled to contain Ely, their young Fenland counterparts at Wisbech Grammar School were romping to victory.

The talented young side ran in a hat-full of tries to triumph 69-7, much to the delight of head of boys’ sport Phillip Webb.

He said: “It was a really good team performance. We played some nice, flowing rugby and the backs ran in some fluent tries.”

Members of Wisbech Grammar School will also get the chance to play in front of thousands of fans on Saturday, when the under-12s and under-13s play their house final matches at the Twickenham Stoop Stadium.

The young stars will play their matches during the half time interval of Harlequins Challenge Cup tie against Italian club side Cavalieri Prato.