IPSWICH RFC …21 v Southwold RFC…28

IPSWICH lost their second ‘derby’ of the season when Southwold, playing the better rugby, earned themselves a hard-fought victory at a grey and dreary Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday.

In the end, the difference between the two sides was that the ‘seasiders’ kicked three penalties whilst the energetic Ipswich side elected to ‘tap and go’, without converting possession in to points. The Southwold pack though, were another dominant feature and the lightweight Ipswich forwards struggled for large periods of the match.

The superstitious in the crowd suspected another bad day at the office for Ipswich when the home side scored first, after just 9 minutes, a long range effort with Chris Kolapo-Ajala galloping away down the right flank to dive over and score - Alan Barker converted (7-0). This following a quickly taken penalty on half-way.

The next 10 minutes belonged to the ‘wold forwards who won a series of penalties at the scrummage when deep in the Ipswich ‘22’. From yet another creaking scrum, & 8 metres out, number 8 Jamie Jenner grounded the ball after the Ipswich pack had retreated over their own try line in a push-over try. Wade kicked the difficult conversion to level the scores (7-7).

Ipswich struggled with fluency throughout the game and their handling let them down badly. The high error count and lack of continuity allowed the dominant Southwold forwards to scrummage and drive the Ipswich side backwards. Ipswich frustratingly seemed intent on running in to the middle channels of the field (to the delight of hard-tackling Southwold defenders), despite having the much faster three-quarters & wingers. A critical error.

After a collapsed scrum on 26 minutes, Wade kicked ‘wold into the Ipswich ‘22’ and from the resultant line-out and driving maul, the ball was switched to the left and Duruk the ‘wold left wing was allowed to dive over in the corner for a comfortable try on 30 mins. A difficult conversion was missed (7-12).

Five minutes later, and Wade was injured going for the line after some great driving play by the Southwold forwards which featured a couple of neat off-loads. No try, and Wade limped off.

Just a couple of minutes later and Ipswich were penalised for kicking the ball in a ruck and a straight forward penalty for Wallis extended the visitors lead (7-15).

On the stroke of half-time after David Honeywood (on for injured Liam Hill) took a rare ball against the head at a Southwold scrum, Ipswich moved the ball to their right. Alan Barker came in on a fantastic line and hit the ball with perfect timing, slicing through the wrong-footed Southwold back line to score the best try of the match – which he then converted (14-15 / HALF TIME).

The second half saw Ipswich forwards improve their scrummaging for a short while and in the third quarter they certainly seemed to achieve parity.

The errors and poor fortune just kept coming. Second row Fraser Goldie injured a shoulder and left the field of play to be replaced by Sam Goodwin.

At the next scrum, Ipswich were again shunted backwards and the ball moved to the Southwold right winger Thickett who was allowed a run in from 30 metres after some confusion in the Ipswich defensive formation. A lovely long range conversion from Wallis extended the Southwold lead (14-22).

At 56 minutes the Ipswich threequarters had at last combined to gain some territory. Jake Goodwin accelerated over half way and slipped the ball to Jermaine Watson who was allowed to proceed up the right touch-line to score another long-range effort for Ipswich. Barker added the conversion (21-22).

Southwold forwards rose to the challenge in the last 20 minutes and started to drive Ipswich backwards once again at scrummage and maul. Ipswich, now under severe pressure conceded several penalties and from a line-out catch & drive, the Ipswich midfield strayed offside on their own ‘22’. Wallis hit the three pointer (21-25).

A couple of yellow cards for Ipswich forwards as the penalty count continued to rise, did nothing to help their cause. Southwold played much of the final quarter of an hour against a tiring 14-man Ipswich side as first Honeywood and then Blom were binned. First off was Honeywood who was slow to get to his feet after a ruck, the Southwold scrum half passed the ball ‘at him’ to draw a penalty (and a yellow card for the young Ipswich lad). Another three points for Wallis (21-28).

Try as they did, Ipswich simply could not muster enough fluency to threaten the ‘wold lead. To their credit the visitors continued to make their tackles and with frustration becoming apparent, the referee terminated proceedings to the delight of the east Suffolk side who leap-frogged Ipswich in the London 2 (NE) league table.