Ipswich RFC U12s 9-6 Clacton RFC U12s

Ipswich RFC U12s enjoyed a positive morning against one of the sides they had faced and beaten at the previous week's minis festival in Colchester.
Clacton turned up with a talented but thin squad and was only able to field 9. The coaches conferred with the referee and agreed to play eleven a side with Ipswich loaning two different players for each of the four quarters. The match was to be played in 12-minute quarters.
Ipswich got off to a flying start with two tries scored quickly from the kick-off through Max Price and Alex Hodgson. The bees had a sense of confidence about them from the start having vanquished Clacton the previous weekend, however perhaps a sense of hubris crept into their game as Clacton responded quickly with two easy tries of their own to level the scoring.

Sensing that they’d dropped their standard somewhat Ipswich quickly got back into their groove with better rucking and an improved shape which saw them dominate the middle two quarters with tries from Taiten Scanlen, Bobby Warner, Alex Hodgson, Max Price, Alfie Bickers, and Cody Jay.

The final quarter saw a fired-up Clacton coming back onto the field with more than pride to play for and they ran in four uncontested tries. As both sides tired tempers on both sides began to fray as tackles gradually crept higher, however, the referee handled the situation expertly and things began to calm down. The morning was rounded off with a well-worked try for Ipswich, completed by scrum-half Charlie Dunnett.

There seems to be a growing sense of camaraderie amongst the boys which is very pleasing to see, natural positions are suggesting themselves to the majority of lads which once established will help with understanding and positioning during a game. Areas to work on include passing and shape. Passing let us down, particularly towards the top of the field. A number of boys searching for glory when we had an overload, and a pass would have guaranteed a try. While our shape became quite narrow, particularly in the first quarter, which on another day would have seen the boys punished.

All in all a good morning, against a Clacton side, who, although depleted, had a number of very strong players. Credit should be given to the Bees who volunteered to play for Clacton and to a man, looked as if they relished taking on their normal teammates.
Man of the match and receiver of the coveted ‘pink laces’ went to Alex Osborne (Ozzy).