Magpies continue winning run

Ipswich Magpies continued their winning run in Eastern Counties1 South with a hard earned win against a skilful and athletic Colchester III team on a scorching hot late summer afternoon at Humber Doucy Lane, on an excellent playing surface prepared by Dave Woods.

The first quarter of the game was played mainly in the middle third of the field as both teams negated each other with fierce defensive efforts, and it was not until the 28th minute that Colchester opened the scoring with a 30 metre penalty goal following sustained pressure.

Ipswich then started to assert pressure forcing Colchester to concede 9 first half penalties, and the pressure was rewarded when centre Bradley Pack showed good evasion skills to score in the left hand corner after a back line shot instigated by captain and scrum half Mark Burch. Josh Brooke added to conversion to give Ipswich a narrow 7pts to 3 lead.

The second half initial encounters replicated the first but better patience in attack building up phases, and therefore pressure, gained dividends for the home side with Lock Dave Dowding and Back Rower Jon Ives scoring within 8 minutes of each other to give the home side 17 pts to 3 lead.

The conceded tries galvanised Colchester in opening the game up and were duly rewarded with a well taken try 10 minutes from the end to the left of the posts following an accurate back line shot.

Any potential loss of points was alleviated when Lock Dowding scored his second try to cap a fine all round personal performance, which Brooke converted to give the Magpies a 24pts to 10 bonus point victory having scored 4 tries.

Discipline was key to the win with only 6 penalties conceded throughout the 80 minutes coupled with great determination and grit at times when under pressure.

Congratulations go to James Young, Simon Chapple and George Williams playing in their full League debuts for Ipswich.

Magpies travel to Stowmarket for round 3 next Saturday 2nd October with a 3pm kick off.