Ipswich kicked off against the wind in this local derby fearing nothing and having confidence to cause an upset on Colchester’s home turf.
Despite Colchester having the strong breeze in their favour for the first half it was Ipswich who enjoyed the earlier possession, with quick ball from a ruck the backline broke left finding flyhalf Sam Corston with a gaping hole in the Colchester defence leaving the Colchester winger floundering, Corston flew down the wing before touching down under the posts for the try. Sam also kicked the conversion for a 7 point lead in 4 ½ minutes of play. (0-7)

Within 10 minutes of play Colchester were back on equal terms when fullback Pete Smith showed his pace, collecting a clearance kick side stepped and ran around the Ipswich defence to score under the posts. Wiggins Converted. (7-7).

Ipswich continued to take the game to Colchester making good headway into the hosts half, only the final pass and deliberate slowing down of the ball at the breakdown prevented any decent scoring opportunity. Whilst the referee was on top his game and awarded many penalties to Ipswich they were just outside Corstons range for points. From the kick to touch and resultant lineout the Colchester defence had re-aligned.

Midway through the first half from another Ipswich attack the ball was turned over and again the quick vision of the Colchester backline kicked the ball over the Ipswich backline for Colchester’s Bramble to chase and gather before crossing the line in the left corner against the run of play. The Conversion was missed. (12-7)

With only 10 minutes of the first half left to play Colchester went further ahead, when Ipswich were penalised for being offside  just outside the 22. The kicker was successful with the 3 points on offer. (15-7).
Halftime Colchester 15 – Ipswich 7.

The second half got under way with Ipswich still looking to turn possession into points, however it was poor kicking that allowed Colchester to again counter attack at pace, resulting in Ipswich chasing back to defend getting caught offside well within the range of Colchester kicker Wiggins. (18-7)

Ipswich pressed forward and after a succession of penalties for illegal hands in the ruck and slowing down the ball the Ipswich forwards were camped 5 metres from the Colchester tryline. A rolling maul was set-up and crossed the tryline for Louis Pentelow to touchdown; unfortunately for Ipswich the referee was unable to see the score and judged the ball to have been held up, another scoring chance went begging.

The rest of the half was played with attack and counter attack, with Ipswich again having much of the possession and opportunities to score but for the final pass, until the final 10 minutes of the game.

Through ill discipline, Ipswich on the attack deep inside the Colchester half, Ipswich were penalised for pushing a player without the ball, Colchester took a quick tap and passed out wide for Pete Smith to again demonstrate his pace and race up the field unopposed to score under the posts for a converted try. (23-7)

Ipswich continued to push forward put again were punished for allowing loose ball to be gathered up by the home side and counter attack at pace, again fullback Smith scoring under the posts for a converted try in the last play of the game.

Final Score Colchester 30 Ipswich 7.

The score line will flatter Colchester, but the 23 points difference in this encounter certainly doesn’t reflect how the game was played.
Ipswich will take heart from positives of this game and put some wrongs to right against Norwich next week.

The rest of the weekend's results were -

CHELMSFORD 22 - 19 NORWICH

ENFIELD IGNS 8 - 6 BRAINTREE

HARLOW 0 - 40 THURROCK

ROMFORD &GP 12 - 18 SUDBURY

SAFFRON WALDEN 15 - 14 MERSEA ISL