Cantabrigians 8 - 12 Ipswich

Ipswich RFC managed their first away win of the season in what was a rather dour affair at Cambridge based Cantabs. The stand out feature of a rather uneventful first period saw Ipswich lock Mike Graham leave the field of play after 15 mins (ribs) to be replaced by the improving 18-year-old former Colt, David Honeywood.

The first period was dominated by handling errors from both sides. The speedy Ipswich defensive effort put the home side under immense pressure for large periods of the game whilst sloppy handling plagued the visitors efforts to gain an advantage.

Cantabs led at the break with the slenderest of advantages, having taken a 3-0 lead on 33 mins following an infringement at a tackle by Ipswich centre Alan Barker - in front of the Ipswich goal. An easy three points for Nick Denham.

The second half started with a Cantabs breakaway. On 44 mins. winger Francois Eve showed a fine turn of pace to sprint clear from halfway. Only some fine shepherding followed by a desperate tackle from Carlton Littlechild prevented a certain score. Ipswich regained possession and cleared.

Former Ipswich colt 18-year-old Luke Uru was introduced after 45 mins, replacing another ex-colt Josh Wright on the right wing.

A period of wayward Ipswich kicking allowed Cantabs some easy possession. It was the Cantabs pack that went through the phases in the Ipswich ‘22’ following a penalty and line-out. A fine Ipswich defence forced the ball wide and it was winger Eve again on the end of a fine pass from number 8 Richards, who went clear to score the first try of the match for the home side.

Ipswich, whilst continuing to struggle with their basic catch-pass, did start to improve their game and slowly started to build some ball-retention and a territorial advantage. Cantabs started to tire and their error count started to creep up – as did the penalty count. Ipswich, playing their high-tempo game, decided to tap & go. Slowly, the visitors edged forwards and into the Cantabs ‘22’. Following a quick penalty from Charlie Dower, Jake Goodwin crashed forwards and deep in to the Cantabs red zone. Winger Uru quickly moved the ball to his right and found left wing Jermaine Watson outside him. The fast-moving Ipswich winger sprinted 15 metres and dived over for a well worked try. With the score 8-5 as the sides entered the final quarter, Cantabs looked dispirited and fatigued.

Ipswich continued to exert pressure and, as their confidence grew, the black & golds pressed forwards with a lot more determination when in possession.

Following a high tackle on Honeywood, full back Littlechild made a tremendous break through the centre of the field drawing yet another Ipswich penalty – a high tackle on Adam Pickering. Ipswich again went quickly from the penalty and Luke Steward popped up on the right to release Luke Uru who smartly finished for Ipswich in the corner. Barker added a fine conversion and Ipswich had the lead on 70 mins (8-12).

The final 10 minutes of play saw the energetic Ipswich defence swarming all over the blue & whites who simply could not get out of their own half because of a superb team effort from Ipswich.

The Suffolk side continued with their defensive press finishing the match deep in the Cantabs half securing a much-needed away win to move the team up to 6th in London 2 (NE).