Ipswich travelled to Romford in a positive mood after a last weeks home victory against Brentwood, despite late call off from centre Tertius Terblanch with an injured ankle. Louis Pentelow stepped into the centre, while centre Jayden Scott continued to play with a shoulder problem.

Ipswich kicked off playing into the fierce wind but managing to put the home side under pressure in the early exchanges. 6 minutes into the game with the Ipswich pack having the upper hand won a scrum inside Romford’s 22 metre area. The ball was passed out to Mark Broughton running at pace found space down the left wing to score the first try of the game in the left corner. Unfortunately Mark Broughton was unable to convert his try, (0 – 5).

The try sparked Romford into action kicking for territory and using the fierce wind to good advantage. From the centre of the field Romford managed to turn over ball in the ruck, spinning the ball out to the backs who always looked dangerous, Romford’s Leon Sarikovas danced his way through several missed tackles before touching down under the posts. No 14 Matt Philips converted (7 – 5).

On 30 minutes of play Romford went further ahead when the referee awarded Romford a penalty on the edges of 22 metre line for an alleged trip. No 14 Matt Philips kicked the 3 points (10 – 5). One minute before halftime Romford went further ahead when again the racing backs of Romford jinked and danced through Ipswich defence this time Lou Sarkus broke free and scored under the posts. Romford’s Matt Philips again converted. (17 – 5).

Halftime: Romford 17 Ipswich 5

Right from the start Ipswich receiving the ball went on the attack, scrum half Ian Fraser made a break and raced for the line with Christian Hadwen in support. The ball was floated out to Hadwen to finish off the attack with a try in the right corner. Mark Broughton failed with the conversion (17-10). In 14 minutes of play Ipswich scored again, this time the more powerful Ipswich pack secured good ruck ball when Captain Geoff Searle raced for the line again in the right corner. With the wind again spoiling Mark Broughton attempted conversion. (17 -15).

The referee now started to take a more firm grip of the match with niggling penalties. The Romford tight head prop had already been sin binned for punching, on 25 minutes of play Ipswich Captain Geoff Searle was sent to the bin for not moving away from the tackle. Soon to be followed by Ipswich loose head prop Morgan Basham for a shoulder charge. With 2 players off the field Romford capitalised by scoring two late tries in final minutes of play, neither of the tries were converted, but the score put the match beyond Ipswich’s grasp.

Again midway through the second half this game was ripe for Ipswich to secure only being 2 points behind and having all the possession. However with the lack of discipline at crucial times in this match saw another missed opportunity to gain badly needed league points.

 

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FIRST XV LEAGUE
London 3 North East

Pos	Team	Pld	Pts
1	Westcliff	22	41
2	Diss	22	36
3	Rochford	22	30
4	Harlow	22	22
5	Romford	22	22
6	Brentwood	22	21
7	Saffron W	22	21
8	Norwich	22	19
9	Braintree	22	18
10	Chelmsford	22	14
11	Ipswich	22	13
12	Colchester	22	5

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