Braintree
Ipswich travelled to Braintree in buoyant mood after the previous weeks win against Mersea; this was despite changes in the Ipswich lineout again through the introduction of new players and some absenteeism with the flu virus.
On a sunny afternoon Ipswich received the kick-off from Braintree and immediately took the game to the hosts applying early pressure.
The first 20 minutes Ipswich found themselves camped deep in the Braintree half and only desperate tackling and handling errors prevented Ipswich getting on the scoreboard. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when after 3 phases of ruck ball, scrumhalf Whanauhou Peita picked up from the base of the ruck and dive for the tryline on the left side of the pitch. No10 Sam Corston was just wide with conversion. (0-5)
The remainder of the half finished with Ipswich applying all the pressure, but could not increase the lead.
Halftime. Braintree 0 Ipswich 5.
Ipswich kicked off the 2nd half and Braintree returned the ball deep into the Ipswich half making good use of the breeze.
After some ping pong rugby the Braintree backs decided to run with fullback Tom Chapman breaking through 4 weak tackles covering some 35 metres to score on the far right of the field. Braintree centre Charles Monk converted to put the hosts in front. (7-5)
Immediately from the restart with Ipswich in shock of leaking a try after applying all the pressure, Braintree repeated the move and bizarrely No11 Nick Ashford broke through what looked like 6 feeble tackles to score in the right corner again. Charles Monk missed the conversion. (12-5)
It took 28 minutes before Ipswich could get back on level terms, again applying all the aggression and front running, the ball was quickly recycled through 6 phases of play before the ball was passes to replacement centre Tim Lloyd to slide through under the posts. No10 Sam Corston converted. (12-12)
Despite the continued pressure it was ill discipline that cost Ipswich the game when just inside the Ipswich half, Braintree were awarded a penalty when Ipswich failed to get back onside despite warnings from the referee. No12 Charles Monk kicked long and true for the 3 points. (15 -12)
With 10 minutes of play left Ipswich through everything but the kitchen sink at Braintree to get a result from this game and had 2 five scrummaging opportunities to do it, sadly that went begging and the game was lost.
Final Score: Braintree 15 Ipswich 12.
Head Coach Aaron Brown had stern words with team on a game that was thrown away in 10 minutes of madness and slack tackling.
Applying all the pressure and being on the front foot for the majority of the game we failed to be clinical and stick rigidly to the game plan.
This will be rectified on the training field ready for next week’s fixture at home to Sudbury. 3 PM kick-off.
On a pleasing note Ipswich Magpies beat Wattisham Warriors 37 points to 5 at Humber Doucy Lane, that’s 3 out of 3 wins.
The rest of the weekend's result were -
ENFIELD ING 3 - 31 SAFFRON WALDEN
HARLOW 23 - 19 CHELMSFORD
MERSEA ISL 7 - 59 THURROCK
ROMFORD & GP 29 - 24 COLCHESTER
SUDBURY 18 - 18 NORWICH