Ipswich 27 - 20 Old Cooperians

Ipswich were trailing 5-20 with only 20 minutes left before they overcame East Londoners Old Cooperians with three late great tries and a penalty to win 27-20 and secure much needed points in London 2 North East.

Storm Brian made conditions difficult for the players with strong gusting wind disrupting handling at Humber Doucy Lane. Old Cooperians gained a penalty early on and kicked deep to gain a lineout a few metres from the Ipswich line. Their big pack drove forward with a rolling maul to provide a score for Daryl Ox after only 5 minutes play.

The play was quite fragmented, the visitors looked strong in set pieces and drove forward with some big forwards well to the fore but good Ipswich line speed denied them much progress. Ipswich looked better ball in hand but all too often the last pass went awry. Difficult conditions led to mistakes for both sides and numerous turnovers were stalling attacking moves.

It was near the half hour before Old Cooperians scored a second try, a winger breakaway from Harry Fayers who sprinted down the left wing finding a one on one with the Ipswich full back before checking his defensive run and taking an outside break to score near the corner.

At half time Old Cooperians were ahead 10-0 but it was clear that in a game dominated by errors it was anyone’s match.

Ipswich restarted with more purpose and control winning a good attacking scrum on the opposition 22. As the ball was passed left Ipswich backs created a break for Charlie Dower who ran clear to score on 45 minutes, the conversion was narrowly missed but Ipswich were right back in the game 5-10.

Old Cooperians continued to dominate in the set pieces and worked forward into Ipswich territory before forcing a penalty which was converted by Joe Bilton on 53 minutes to restore a two score margin, 5-13 to the visitors.
Ipswich fought to restore parity but all too often attacking moves were disrupted by very difficult handling conditions. Winger Kolade Awobowale leapt on a loose ball and sprinted clear to score a try between the posts, converted by Joe Bilton the visitors seemed to have a comfortable 5-20 lead with only 20 minutes remaining.

Finally, Ipswich started to play, winning some good ruck ball near half way Chris Blom and Jake Goodwin inter-passed neatly to break forward before flanker Gwyn Church sprinted clear to score, converted by Corey Button Ipswich were within 2 scores on 62 minutes. It seemed that Old Cooperians were tiring as Ipswich started to win line out and scrummage ball. Ipswich were attacking more purposefully as Chris Blom and Jermaine Watson drove forward wide right before releasing Cameron Beaton to score a very good team try on 70 minutes, Corey Button’s conversion bounced back from the upright so Ipswich were tantalisingly close 17-20 with 10 minutes to play and the momentum clearly with them. Ipswich attacked strongly, and it looked as though Carlton Littlechild had broken clear before exceptional cover defence stalled him. But on the 76th minute the pressure told, Ipswich forced a penalty, Corey Button took it quickly and scored a try to take the home side into the lead for the first time in the match, he converted his own touchdown so Ipswich were 24-20 to the good with only minutes left. Ipswich continued to drive to deny any comeback gaining a penalty converted by Corey Button to complete the scoring and seal a dramatic win for Ipswich.

Ipswich Coach Nick Greenhall was understandably pleased, “our speed was decisive in the end, we showed a lot of resilience to come back at the end, it was in doubt, but out composure, guts and maturity were telling.” Ipswich Captain Adam Pickering was thrilled, “we did make it hard for ourselves, but in the end we put the phases together with some quality moves, OCs were a strong outfit but we found a way to beat them.”