Ipswich obtained their third league win in 3 games on Saturday defeating a skill full and athletic Cantabs team in atrocious conditions that battered the whole of East Anglia on Saturday.

Both teams core skills were severely tested and unsurprisingly the 28 scrums and 20 handling errors meant that neither side could rely on a consistent period of momentum.

Ipswich skipper Corey Button displayed a masterclass in how to play to the conditions with accurate kicking forcing errors and turning the opposition at every opportunity, particularly in the second half, his kicking game contributed to all 3 tries scored by the home side.

The first half saw both teams cancel each other out with tenacious defensive efforts, and the deadlock was broken after sustained pressure from the hosts resulting in skipper Corey Button kicking a penalty, the first of 3 successes from 4 attempts.

The hosts extended their advantage after 28 minutes when a turnover was forced in their own half and after a series of phases, Button turned the opposition with a sliding kick that was spilled and Scrum Half Jake Steward skilfully retrieved the ball to score unopposed under the posts.
Button kicked the goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

Cantabs started to obtain possession and field position and were rewarded with a penalty goal just before half time to reduce the deficit to 7 points.

The second half saw the home side totally dominate territory although possession was even, and eventually the pressure was rewarded.
Button kicked a steepling cross kick that forced a defenders handling error and Full Back Carlton Littlechild was rewarded for his kick chase effort by retrieving the ball and scoring in the right corner.

7 minutes from the full time saw the games highlight in terms of skill and execution, Button chipped over the advancing defence on half way and Centre Tim Mann expertly timed his run from an onside position to gather the ball on the full, take the tackle, and offload to the supporting skipper who veered to the left of the posts to score and duly convert to give the home side a 22pts to 3 lead and final score.

Both teams and referee Steven Farnell from Buckinghamshire deserve credit for producing a game on such intensity and effort in extremely challenging conditions albeit on an excellent playing surface.

Jim Clark will be pleased of his team’s second half performance in terms of managing the game, and also keeping a dangerous Cantabs team from crossing the try line over the 80 minutes.

Next week sees a League break and Ipswich re-start their programme on Saturday 16th October with a tough away game against Saffron Walden at Henham.