Ipswich 46 - West Cliff 16

A vastly restructured Ipswich side thrashed Westcliff on their home pitch as the amber-and-blacks keep the pressure on in the London Division Three North East title race.

Ipswich lie third, one point behind Diss and five behind league leaders Eton Manor, after both teams won in the weekend.

Despite a bout of flu wreaking havoc at Ipswich Rugby Club the first XV continued from last week’s 7-5 win over Romford and Gidea Park to run up 46 points against Westcliff. The demand for stability was enough to even bring coach Ian Fraser out of retirement as he played at inside centre.

Westcliff scored first to snap the visitors awake, with new Ipswich winger and man of the match Danny Jillions scoring and Chris Hadwen converting to take Ipswich into a 7-5 lead after 17 minutes, negating Westcliff fullback Jamie Braithewaite’s earlier 50 metre tryline sprint.

Minutes later zippy South African flyhalf Jan Van Tonder collected following a driving maul and scored near the posts, though Hadwen was wide with his conversion attempt.

Kiwi utility forward Ben Louisson, playing at prop for this match, was next over the line after 25 minutes and the scoreline swelled to 19-5 with Hadwen’s easy conversion.

A severe head wound to South African star flanker Cristoffel Blom disrupted Ipswich enough for Westcliff to claw a try back before the turnaround and the visitors started the second half 19-10 ahead.

Outstanding hat-trick debutante Jillions smashed two more tries down the hosts’ throats which Hadwen duly converted to build a quick 33-19 lead.

A try to Pierre Theron as soon as he took the pitch as replacement, plus conversion and two penalties from Hadwen demolished Westcliff’s chances.

Westcliff scored a late consolation try but remained thoroughly beaten 46-15 at the final whistle.

Ipswich’s next league match is at home against Saffron Walden and the improving weather will allow the talented backline to express themselves in front of the home supporters at Humber Doucy Lane.

Competition is expected to intensify for first XV places as players return from illness but coaches Jeff Searle, Andrew Skipper and Ian Fraser are confident that a strong turnout at trainings will ensure the pressure is on the teams above them to slip up and let Ipswich claw their way to the top of a competitive league.

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