Ipswich 3 Colchester 3

December 15th 2007

It seems odd to report that the playing of rugby at senior level at Ipswich is of secondary importance to the registered players as the Coach never has the majority of the squad training together on one night let alone two and this is reflected on the pitch on Saturdays in the performance of the team - this was never more evident than last Saturday when playing at home against Colchester the bottom placed club the coach must have been expecting a morale boosting win but instead saw a very poor performance and only a draw as a result.    
Colchester played up the slope but with the breeze at their backs but straight from the kick off Ipswich looked to be the stronger with their forwards more dominant at every phasse. This gave the home three quarters many oppotrtunities but they managed to spurn at least four scoring opoortunities with a mis directed or dropped pass when it looked easier to score - it was frustratring and Colchester punished there missed opportunities when from a rare excursion into their opponents half kicked three points from a penalty awarded for handling in a ruck (0 - 3).

Ipswich again put some pressure on their opponents but Colchester kept their line intact and it was only a penalty awarded for a similar offence that gave Mark Broughton the chance to level the scores (3-3). After half time the pattern was the same with Ipswich unable to cross the Colchester line through a combination of stout defending, mishandling and wrong options. An example of the latter with time running out having only two minutes earlier missed a scoring opportunity when rebuffed from a line out near their opponents line following a penalty award, elected to do the same again when on the 22 metre line just right of the posts instead of going for goal. The move failed and the whistle blew for full time to end a poor match.
There is now a break until the New Year when Ipswich travel to League leaders Westcliff on the 5th January 2008. Let us hope that the Management can get a much more positive response to training in the New Year.
To make matters worse for Ipswich there has been a 2 point deduction imposed placing us below Chelmsford so are second from bottomin the relegation zone. 

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