The Woodbridge Festival, Sunday 6th October 2019.

The first festival of the season seems to come round more quickly each year, and it always
feels that we have not had sufficient time to master the changes made as we progress up
the age groups.

The weather forecast suggested sunshine and showers - there was a lack of the former, we
were also unfortunately missing the St Jo's lads who were attending a schools tournament.

Match 1 v Bury St Edmunds.
We got off to a bad start with a poor field positioning and a reluctance to tackle and we were
very quickly 2 down. Bury maintained their dominance adding 2 more very well taken tries
involving lots of slick passing and utilising the full width of the pitch. We gradually got back
into the game and spent a bit of time in Bury's half, but they played very aggressively ripping
the ball from us with ease or keeping us wide and using touch to their advantage. Bury
scored one more try from a great individual effort.
Our boys seemed to wake up in the last few minutes and got a good try after putting Bury
under pressure.
Final score - Ipswich 1 - Bury 5

Match 2 v Colchester.
Once again we got off to a slow and muddled start with Colchester dominating possession
and territory and getting an early try. Ipswich regrouped had some good strong runs and
offloads and equalised right in the corner. The game was then quite even for a period with
some good competitive rugby. Colchester then seemed to move up a gear and scored
another 3 tries to which we had no reply.
Final score - Ipswich 1 - Colchester 4
although the score line was similar, this game was much more encouraging for us as the
boys had started to gel and positioning and teamwork were much more apparent.

Match 3 v Ipswich YM.
The sun came out briefly and the Ipswich boys also brightened up, dominating possession
and territory and taking a very well deserved 2 try lead. YM came back with a strong period
and a try when we lost our position and shape, but we soon regrouped, ran in another 2 tries
and dominated the remainder of the game. A really good show from the boys.
Final score - Ipswich 4 - Ipswich YM 1

Match 4 v Woodbridge.
Woodbridge, so often our nemesis got off to a really good start, dominating possession and
territory with 2 quick tries. Ipswich came back a bit but as soon as we lost the ball or gave it
away they broke and used the complete width of the pitch to score more tries with our boys
reluctant to tackle or just running beside the opposition towards our try line.
Final score - Ipswich 0 - Woodbridge 4

Match 5 v Chelmsford.
Chelmsford had looked really good only just being beaten by Bury in their previous match.
The Ipswich boys seemed to be fired up playing some fantastic running and passing rugby,
with some great offloads, quickly running in two tries. Chelmsford pulled 1 back but we
dominated possession and territory with some great teamwork and another try. We relaxed
for a few minutes, shied away from tackles allowing them to level the scores. The boys were
in no mood to loose this one and upped their game once again and scoring the winning try.
Final score Ipswich 4 - Chelmsford 3

It was a good days rugby. Both Bury & Woodbridge by whom we were comprehensively
beaten, were very well drilled and played very aggressively, and got away with several high
and illegal tackles. Had our lads played as they did against Chelmsford, I think the score lines of the Bury and
Woodbridge matches would have been closer and possibly we would have won.

It was a great day and all the boys were a credit to IRFC.