Ipswich 14 - 43 Westcliff

Ipswich entertained the unbeaten league leaders at HDL last Saturday having beaten their nearest challengers Diss comfortably the week previous. Ipswich therefore needed to be fully up for the game if they were not to be at the wrong end of the score sheet. In the event from the kick off Westcliff showed their superity and attracked immediately pushing the home side on to the back foot.

The Visitors backs were linking well and with strong running put much pressure on the Ipswich midfield who had difficulty holding their line. After only 5 minutes they were caught offside at a ruck and Westcliff kicked a penalty from in front of the posts(0-3).

Westcliff for the next 15 minutes cruelly exposed the Ipswich defence running in four tries, two out on the left wing and the other two under the posts which, with three conversions, put the result beyond doubt(0-29). 

The Visitors were in full cry with every player wanting the ball and the Ipswich side seemingly demoralised after half an hour another score which was converted further emphasised their superiority (0-36). Some stern reprimands from the Ipswich captain Geoff Searle saw Ipswich at last put some rugby together and from a penalty award 10 metres from the Westcliff line a tap and drive
saw Geoff Searle claim the touchdown which Mark Broughton converted to get the home side on the score sheet(7-36).

After half time Westcliff again attracked but the home side were at last making tackles and making them work harder to find an opening which duly came after 12 minutes when from a tap penalty the home side did not retire and Westtcliff forced their way over the line for there sixth try and fifth goal as the conversion was added(7-43).

To say Westcliff relaxed may be unkind to Ipswich who from this time on and for the rest of the game kept the visitors out and after half an hour, Alex Primer from a ruck ball found himself with one defender to beat and he scored a consolation try in the right corner which Colin Humphreys converted with an excellent kick(14-43).There was no further score and Ipswich must reflect on how they can try harder to prevent the early scores which put them so quickly on the back foot. Next Saturday our hosts are Colchester it is a must win game for both sides as there is only one point between them at the bottom of the table with Chelmsford also level with Colchester having only managed one win as well. Please come and support your team, as there is always a vocal home crowd in attendance and our side needs your encouragement, kick off 2.30pm.

Ipswich have not got a match on 17th November having been knocked out of the EDF cup but hopefully a fixture can be found as the following week 24th November Ipswich are at home to Norwich when there is an old players lunch and it will be a great day to get a win against our old adverseries whom we have not played competitively for some years.

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