Ipswich  31  Sudbury 14

The revolution continues at Ipswich rugby club with Jeff Searle and Ian Fraser’s side piling on their third straight win of the season over local rivals Sudbury in the Intermediate Cup.

Despite a valiant effort from a tenacious young Sudbury team, which saw them take the first and last tries of an entertaining match, the Ipswich machine rolled forward again, the superbly talented backline firing erratically to easily overcome the stubborn defence

For the third week running Ipswich leaked points early, Sudbury’s feisty centre Jamie Phillips scorching though under posts and converting to give the navy-blue-and-whites a 7-0 lead before Zimbabwean sevens star Tonderai Mapunde finished off a confident attack to score out wide in reply.

Red-mopped number eight Sean Murphy finished off a sustained Ipswich attack to plough over the line next, flyhalf Mark Broughton converting for a 12-7 lead with the ball firmly in Ipswich’s court.

Last year’s South African poster-boy find Tertius Terblanche was fed a well-timed pop from hooker Martin Holland to score near the posts almost immediately from the restart, with Broughton misfiring on his conversion attempt.

Two more forward tries, to Kiwi lock Ben Louisson and a superb individual showcase from South African dynamo Gert Rossouw, gave Sudbury too high a wall of points to climb but they bulldozed over for a forwards try claimed by number eight Lee Cooper.

Sudbury were held together by a spirited effort against a superior team and flyhalf Scott Harries inspired the visitors to battle to the end, despite relying on several colts players – Sudbury fielding three seventeen-year-olds to offset evergreen Gareth Evans, whose 41 years balanced the books only just.

Ipswich coach Jeff Searle took umbrage to Sudbury’s consolation try, demanding more work from a forward pack that has yet to fulfil its potential. “We have a backline of pianists and a forward pack that keep trying to tinkle on the keys,” he said, in mild frustration after the comfortable win. “Some periods of the match we went off the boil and our workrate and fitness are key factors in continuing the run of success we are finally achieving.”

With abundant and youthful talent in centre Mike Ward, fullback Terblanche and Mapunde on the right wing and the return of valued winger Christian Hadwen, the backline is returning a sense of purpose to the team after several seasons without direction.
Ipswich club director Mike Hancock has plans to increase the playing membership even more this season and the competition for places has given an edge missing last year.

Sudbury have a young side too but while strong going forward, the younger players tended to panic in defence, an urgent problem that will need to be addressed after three straight losses so far this season.

Ipswich travel to Romford this Saturday, while Sudbury host local rivals Diss.

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