Ipswich RFC 19 - 47 Woodford RFC

A somewhat depleted and thus, much-changed IPSWICH side arrived in Woodford Green to take on the table topping Woodford RFC on a fine and sunny day. The playing surface and dry conditions again seemed perfect for the Ipswich lads and their up-tempo, open, running style.

However, without the dominant ball-carriers required at this level, and with an inexperienced and ‘physically challenged’ front five, Ipswich were always going to struggle in the securing of first phase/set-piece ball. And so it proved.

Against the run of play, Tawanda Kandemwa intercepted a wayward Woodford pass on the Ipswich ‘22’ and sprinted clear of the cover to score after just 17 minutes with Alan Barker kicking the conversion (0-7).

Thereafter, it was Woodford that enjoyed the lions share of possession and territory. The Ipswich scrum was already creaking (quite loudly) when the referee penalised Ipswich for ‘baling out’ as the home pack marched the black & golds towards their own try line on 22 minutes. A penalty try (7-7).

Just eight minutes later and full back Carlton Littlechild was left grasping at thin air as the Woodford fly-half neatly jinked past him to score (12-7).

Whilst the likes of Jake Goodwin and Fraser Goldie tried to gain some territory for Ipswich the hard yards were hard to come by & Woodford repeatedly nicked the ball to frustrate the visitors.

Half time: Woodford 12 v Ipswich …7

The second half saw the introduction of Tom Potter and Monty Douglas into the Ipswich forward pack but Ipswich could still not retain possession sufficiently long enough to exert pressure. The Ipswich ball-handling whilst perhaps slightly better than last week was still not fluent or slick. Often the Ipswich receivers had to break stride to hold on to the ball when it was passed to them. Ipswich players when tackled were also getting turned over - Woodford often recovering possession after 3 or 4 phases of Ipswich play.

The Woodford inside centre hit a straight line and scored (19-7) before Kandemwa (65 mins) responded, again showing his pace, scoring his second try - which Barker again converted (19-14).

Woodford player coach Tom Redfern (scrum half) was allowed to dominate proceedings and enjoyed quite a bit of freedom.

On 68 mins, Ben Grimwood was (harshly) yellow-carded by the referee who felt that the Ipswich fly-half was making little effort to get away from a tackled Woodford player.

Whilst he was off the field, Woodford effectively went on to win the game scoring two further tries without reply. The first from a short-range scrum saw their back-row trio pick up and muscle their way through some weak Ipswich defence (26-14). The second, an interception try – the ball captured on half-way as Ipswich launched a desperate attack – which secured the points (33-14).

Kandemwa then magically danced out of trouble on the left wing, evading half of the tiring Woodford side to score a fine solo try (his third of the game) on 80 minutes, with Grimwood back on the field (33-19).

In ten minutes of injury time, Woodford added a further two tries to provide them with a somewhat flattering final score line, but Ipswich by then, looked very flat as the game moved to a close.

The introduction of newcomer Salys Edgaras (aka: Edgar) was one of the few positives to come out of the game. The muscular Lithuanian scrum-half recruit is a powerful and aggressive type with a fine pass. He was unlucky not to have scored on his debut after dispossessing Redfern at a Woodford scrum deep in their own ‘22’ – one to watch out for in the coming weeks.

The Ipswich pack though, were a distant second on the day struggling to scrummage and failing to secure their own line-out or challenge their opponents. Whilst at times playing with ambition the Ipswich handling was not quite as slick as that of their hosts who were deserved winners on the day.