Ipswich 31  Campion 5

Ipswich smashed their way out of the doldrums with an inspired second-half display of running rugby against Campion at Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday.

With the backline firing on all cylinders and captain Alex Briggenshaw reigning supreme in the lineouts the home side shook off the residue of last weekend’s frustrating defeat at Eton Manor to tease the home supporters with flashes of the team’s undoubted potential.

Four tries to Campion’s solitary last-minute consolation score soaked the home squad with much-needed confidence as Ipswich look forward to the return from injury of South African flanker Gert Rossouw for the match at Bury St Edmunds this weekend.

Ipswich finally overcame their early points-concession jinx as they resisted a drawn-out assault on their line for much of the first ten minutes.

The visitors tested the amber-and-blacks’ defence for much of the first half before the outstanding Christian Hadwen bamboozled the Londoners, stepping in and out at will to break through and feed a speeding Mark Broughton, who flew round under the posts to break the deadlock with only minutes to go before the break.

Broughton converted his own try and from the restart Ipswich pummelled their way into Campion’s half to earn a penalty which Broughton stabbed through for a 10-0 lead at the turnaround.

Nine minutes into the second half scrumhalf Ollie Johnson darted down the right-hand blindside to feed the resurgent Simon Hughes, who nimbly poked a grubber kick down the touchline, battled past the obstructing Campion second-rower who couldn’t prevent his spectacular touchdown within a hair’s breadth of the deadball line.

Campion’s fitness started to pale against the home team’s bigger heart and Ipswich looked dominant in open play with Hadwen, Fraser Pratt, Tertius Terblanche and Sam Kemball-Taylor showcasing the talent on display.

Kemball-Taylor scored his first points for his new club when he smoothly dummied past the desperate defence to score near the posts, with Broughton’s third conversion giving Ipswich a satisfying 24-0 cushion.

With eight minutes to go Hadwen put the result beyond any doubt when he started and finished a fluid movement from the home 22 to score under the sticks. Broughton took the two points to take the score to 31-0 but the visitors tried to spoil the party with a late try out wide, the game finishing 31-5.

The match also saw the return of flanker Nick Rush, who came off the bench to influence an already-strong pack. Coach Jeff Searle and new South African flanker Cristoffel Blom rampaged through the breakdowns with Tom Aylott and Ben Louisson making strong cases for their inclusion in a tightly-contested playing XV.

Ipswich lie 6th in London League Three North East with a game in hand but are only four points behind leaders Eton Manor, and will head to bottom-placed Bury St Edmunds this Saturday hoping to improve on their recent away form.

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