I hope you’ve all warmed up on the outside and I hope the boys have left you with the warm glow on the inside that they’ve given me today. Yes it was cold, yes we were all running around from pitch to pitch but my days it was worth it, I’m sure you agree. The rugby our boys played today was first class. Well done boys. I didn’t get to see enough of both squads as I would have liked because of helping out with some injuries but what I did see was special.

Before I start, a few thank you’s…

Firstly to Darren Wright and Suffolk rugby for organising today. We look forward to the next one. Darren gets through a tonne of work for Suffolk and Eastern Counties and is also our Director of Rugby as an age group at Ipswich. Thank you Darren, I and the age group are very grateful for all that you do for us.

Secondly to Andy McMahon for fielding all the calls yesterday so that I could go to Twickenham uninterrupted.

Thirdly to the parents that volunteered today to do carpark and kitchen duties and to Andrea for organising it all. Like the boys you were and are phenomenal. If you haven’t taken a turn this season, please do next time up.

Fourthly to the parents, siblings, extended family and friends that cheered the boys on in the wind and the rain. Fabulous support everyone. Thank you.

Penultimately to Sam G, Matt and Daniel (and parents of all three) for coming up today to support the boys when I know they’d have all given anything to play. Being injured is never fun. That they all came up to support their team mates speaks volumes for the spirit in this squad. Get well boys, we want you back as soon as possible. For now though, rest well.

Lastly, to the boys who played today. You never cease to amaze me. I set the bar very high for you as you know and realise I get on your cases when we are in the dressing room or at training . I do it because I know there’s more for you to achieve. All of you. Today to a man you finished on a massive high. Let’s start from there next time out. Believe boys, believe! Set your personal bars so high they scare you. Never settle and always be working harder than the opposition.

Gold Games

Ipswich 0 v 20 Stowmarket

Stowmarket normally field two squads but only brought one to the Lane today and most of those sit in their higher level set up. This was always going to be tough ask straight out of the blocks and whilst I only saw snippets running between this and the Black game that was going on at the same time, the boys worked hard with nothing to show for it. We did struggle with our line speed and our individual responsibilities and if we are to build on what turned into an excellent day we have to show more commitment to each other and believe in ourselves and each other.

Ipswich 5 v 25 Hadleigh (Sam W)

I managed to watch most of this one under the posts in the pouring rain and when I left with well under 5 minutes to go it was 5-10 to Hadleigh and I thought we would nick it. We had scored a brilliant try. Mo finding Seth from the base of the scrum who went forward before drawing the man and hitting the full flow Sam Wright who scored mid right. The boys seemed to lift themselves collectively as a result but obviously it didn’t work out that way given the final score. Again we need to go forward and embrace the contact in the tackle and back ourselves collectively and individually. I fully believe scalps like Hadleigh are well within the reach of our Gold squad capabilities. What was to follow proves it.

Ipswich 10 v 0 Woodbridge (Bill, Finlay)

Finally the boys rolled into town and not only did the beat Woodbridge, they shut them out which was for me very pleasing. I didn’t get to see any of this one disappointingly but Alex and the parents that I spoke to were delighted with the boys. The scrum was strong, we got our line speed going, our off loading started to show some thought and the belief started to flood through. Bill and Finlay bagged the tries and I couldn’t be more pleased for the pair of them as I know it will give both players an enormous boost.

Ipswich 15 v Bury B 5 (Ted, Finlay, Seth)

The last game was a cracker. The relationship between Mo and Seth is blossoming and in this game Sam W again looked dangerous at 12. The team spirit showed was exceptional in this game and that is now your bench mark boys. Heads never go down again. You’ve shown you can play against a side that were well organised and not only hold them, but beat them. Sam T, Rowan, Xavi and Bill especially get mentions from me in this one for their scrummaging, tackling and rucking. You boys put in a tremendous shift to give the backs a platform. The hands we showed in this game were good. A lovely opener from Ted and I loved the fist pumping celebrations from the boys. Bury got back in it with a try of their own and then it could for a minute or so have swung either way. But the heads did not drop and then Sam W got in to score which he did only for it not to be given before Finlay finished off great hands wide right to put us 10 – 5 up. And then at the death a moment, or a number of moments of pure rugby genius. A quick tap, some interchanging hands and Seth scores in the corner. The crowd go wild! Literally.

What does it mean?

We won 2 and lost 2. The two we lost were against effectively A pool opposition so I am very happy with this as a platform on which to build. The next round is 10 December and we look forward to doing it all over again.

Star Men

Collectively we got a lot better as the day progressed. That is the bench mark now boys. We will finish with that as a group and put any issues we may have had earlier in the day to one side for now.

Things to work on

Tackling, line speed, support, off loads, catching, passing, communicating and running practiced plays are all things we will be looking at this week. Its still very much the basics that need work and regardless of how long you play this game it always will be.

Men of the Day

I’ve picked four forwards and four backs. I’m hoping this is going to light some fires along with those last two performances.

Forwards – Sam T, Rowan, Bill and Xavi.

Backs – Mo, Seth, Finlay and Ted.

Thursday

Get to training. We’d like big numbers again this week please.

This Sunday

Away at Woodbridge. Are you available or unavailable? Update the TeamStuff app.