After a quite intensive close season training programme, the first game of the season became a bit of a reality check in certain aspects of Ipswich’s first game of the season.

In front of a large crowd and after the preceding VP lunch, Chelmsford kicked off with both teams looking to get an early lead.
Chelmsford started applying the early pressure and within 10 minutes had been awarded 3 penalties, the first 2 within easy kicking distance were missed. the third Chelmsford opted for the lineout which was caught and driven easily over the line in the left corner by the bulky and much heavier pack. Chelmsford’s fullback D. Taylor kicked the conversion. (0 – 7).

As the game progressed Chelmsford continued to use their one dimensional game of rolling mauls to good effect and on 39 minutes of play extended their lead, this time in the right corner. Fullback Taylor missed the conversion. (0 – 12).

Ipswich continued trying to make in-roads into the Chelmsford half, but frustrated by the opposition defence being continually offside and not being checked by the referee, this stemmed any attack for the home side.

Halftime: Ipswich 0 Chelmsford 12.

Ipswich kicked off the second half determined to try and rectify the errors of the first half; however that was undone when the referee decided that Ipswich captain Alex Primmer was deliberately not moving from the ruck despite the fact that the Chelmsford pack were lying on top of him. Primmer was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

8 minutes into the second half from a 5 metre lineout a ruck was formed and again the Ipswich defence were penalised for being on the wrong side. To the surprise of the home supporters the referee awarded a penalty try to add further frustration to the home side. The Penalty try was easily converted by fullback Taylor. (0 – 19)

With only 12 minutes of the second half being played Ipswich went down to 13 men, when Vice Captain Nick Rush was sin binned for pulling down a maul.

Ipswich regrouped and put fresh legs on by replacing Nick Williams with Dean Woodgate and Jonathan Fell with Nick Joseland and for the first time Ipswich started to play to their strengths pushing the ball through the backs at pace.
With the renewed vigour came the reward with a lineout in the right hand corner, the ball was popped up for debutant Josh Todd to collect and charge over the line. Tim Lloyd failed to convert. (5 – 19)

Ipswich now started to run the ball with more freedom as Chelmsford tired and 36 minutes played debutant flyhalf Sam Corston showed his pace by gathering the ball inside the Ipswich 22 metre area and running the length of the pitch to score under the posts with no one from Chelmsford getting near him. Ipswich fullback Colin Humphreys converted. (12 – 19)

The remaining minutes saw Ipswich apply pressure to try and rescue the match but it wasn’t to be and the game was lost.

Result: Ipswich 12 Chelmsford 19.

Head Coach Aaron Brown commented after the game that Ipswich will need to learn from the mistakes of this match especially in the first up tackles. The second half was more pleasing as we tried to impose our own game plan and showing how dangerous we can be. Sadly we left it too late.

Next week Ipswich 1^st XV travel to Norwich, whilst the Ipswich Magpies are away to Mersea Island.

Other match results from this weekend -

Braintree  39 - 22  Saffron Walden

Harlow  7 - 32  Romford & GP

Mersea Island  10 - 42  Colchester

Norwich  5 - 34  Thurrock

Sudbury  16 - 12  Enfield Ignatians