Ipswich RFC 36 - 35 Norwich RFC

It was IPSWICH RFC that grabbed the spoils on ‘derby day’ at HDL on what was a cool and damp Saturday that marked the first home fixture of this 2018-19 league campaign.

After a poor showing at Stowmarket, Coach Greenhall made several changes to his side as Ipswich welcomed back in to the side Chris Kolapo-Ajala whilst Jake Steward started in the unusual position of fly-half following the injury to Ben Grimwood. Up front Sam Goodwin, Dennis Tree and Tom Potter came in to the pack whilst Fraser Goldie, Tawanda Kandemwa and Cameron Beaton warmed the bench. Tim Mann made his first senior start partnering Chris Kolapo-Ajala in the centre midfield.

The home side started confidently moving the ball safely but, still in the first minute, Chris Kolapo-Ajala was stripped of possession in the tackle 35 metres from his own line. Norwich launched a series of attacks – the early signs looked ominous.

Joy for Ipswich - an interception by Alan Barker on his own ‘22’ after a promising Norwich foray & the ‘Black & Golds’ wingman made it up field before the ball fell to powerful number 8 Chris Blom who finished the break off after only 3 minutes (5-0).

Ipswich were wasteful when in possession, struggling at the tackle area, repeatedly losing out to the more able Norwich ‘jackals’ & frustratingly conceding penalties in their efforts to retrieve the ball. Three ‘quick-fire’ Norwich penalties kicked by Mike Lawton allowed the visitors to establish a lead on the quarter hour (5-9).

A superb Ipswich attack saw a 4 v 2 created (surely Watson will score) but Norwich’s Nick Austin rather cynically batted down an Ipswich pass – the referee (only) yellow-carding the Norwich player (what no penalty try?).

Moments later, enter Kolapo-Ajala with a fine try pushing Ipswich ahead – Barker added the conversion (12-9).

This was to set the pattern for the day – the lead repeatedly changing hands and, Norwich defenders struggling to bring down the powerful Ipswich midfield of Mann and Kolapo-Ajala.

Jason Hynd (prop) then crashed over for Norwich with Lawton adding an easy conversion (12-16). Almost immediately Kolapo-Ajala scored his second try after Norwich again had seemingly held up their white flags – Barker again converting (19-16).

On the stroke of half-time Norwich right winger Jed Tearle escaped the clutches of Watson to score close to the posts after flirting with the touch line (oh so close). Another Lawton conversion and Norwich went in at the break with a narrow lead (19-23).

An entertaining first half with 42 points scored in 40 minutes – the side that was successful in eliminating errors and could tighten up their defence would surely win this contest.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half provided more of the same. On 42 minutes an early penalty was quickly moved to Kolapo-Ajala and he had his hat-trick (and an Ipswich bonus point) – another Barker conversion and the lead was exchanged once again (26-23).

The Norwich fly-half Chris Parrott made a searing break on 53 mins and his smart pass released Conan Hoey who managed to defy the attention of Kolapo-Ajala, & he dived over close to the posts with Lawton again converting (26-30).

Tim Mann, who had run hard all day, repeatedly and unselfishly offloading with great skill, was then able to score the fifth Ipswich try of the day and Barker again converted as Ipswich (once again) wrestled the lead from the visitors (33-30).

At long last, the scoring slowed as the two sides neutralised the other in all areas. Mann and Kolapo-Ajala were outstanding with ball in hand for Ipswich whilst Hayward and Steward kept prompting the Ipswich forwards with quick taps and some occasional slick passing. Blom was (again) the most prominent of the Ipswich forwards whilst young George Ainge (loose head prop) in spite of struggling at the scrum, enthusiastically threw himself at Norwich runners. Jake Goodwin was a persistent problem for Norwich & at times he resembled a one-paced automaton, crashing in to Norwich at restarts and occasionally nicking their ball at the tackle.

In to the last 10 minutes and Norwich started to string a few phases together. Into the Ipswich ‘22’ and the ball was moved to the Ipswich right. A despairing tackle by Mann could not prevent Hoey from scoring 10 metres from the corner. A difficult conversion was missed but Norwich again had the lead (33-35).

Ipswich responded positively and at last looked far more fluent as they attacked. A penalty was awarded as the pressure mounted (Norwich player not releasing the tackled player) and up stepped Barker for his most difficult kick of the day. The ball flew straight and true from 35 metres and Ipswich moved ahead once again (36-35) with just six minutes left to play.

Ipswich were now quite cute, holding on to the ball, calmly driving forward as they tried to ‘run the clock down’. Then a long kick down the field by Mann and the Ipswich defence smashed in to the Norwich runners up on half way.

Gradually, following patient and controlled Norwich play (7-8 phases) the visitors moved themselves towards the Ipswich ‘22’. Ipswich were now defending resolutely, closing down the Norwich runners, knocking ball carrier after ball carrier backwards in their efforts to thwart the visiting side. Then, a Norwich penalty (Ipswich player offside). At 35 metres the kick is adjudged to be just out of range for Lawton – who instead kicks in to touch, deep inside the Ipswich ‘22’. The referee has by now indicated ‘last play’ as the line-out is formed. Ipswich forwards do not contest the throw and do not engage as Norwich commence their ‘catch & drive’. The referee sees something illegal and penalises the Norwich pack effectively ending the match – much to the annoyance of the visitors.

Not the most convincing of Ipswich wins but, a sweet, sweet victory nevertheless that sees Ipswich move into joint third in the league table at this early stage of the season.