Ipswich Leave Best Till Last

Ipswich Leave Best Till Last

Ipswich Under 16s travelled to Woodbridge for a three-cornered contest against Woodbridge and Colchester and on a morning where there really wasn’t much to separate any of the sides, after a slowish start they left it until the last match to really demonstrate what they can do.

Ipswich came up short against Colchester in the first period, conceding a soft try from a line out after 2 minutes before the boys had time ease themselves into the game, standing off tackles and gifting too much space to the larger Colchester pack. Nonetheless Ipswich worked themselves into the game and competed manfully and came closest with a great kick chase as Adam Rudolf cleared with a prodigious kick and Jake Hoskins got close to a break. However in the end Colchester prevailed 5-0.

Ipswich then faced hosts Woodbridge. Conceding a soft early try after gifting an easy overlap for a try on 2 minutes. It was a closely fought affair with Woodbridge quicker to react in open play, they doubled their advantage after Ipswich conceded a series of penalties before Woodbridge took advantage of a final quick penalty 5 metres out to post a second try. That period finished 10-0 to Woodbridge.

Ipswich’s third session was against Colchester it was clear that Ipswich were warming up to the contest, much sharper into rucks and tighter in tackle defence and it was two minutes before the end before the deadlock was broken after a well worked Colchester try from a neat 5 metre lineout move. Converted that left the score Colchester 7-0.

Finally Ipswich turned up for the fourth quarter against Woodbridge, attacking strongly from the off, strong drives from newbie Cian and Tom White set up an attacking ruck on the Woodbridge line, Jake Hoskins was close then a defending turnover led to a wind assisted clearance kick far over the head of Full-back Cameron Knox-Johnson and a kick chase won by Woodbridge completely against the run of play led to an opening try. Ipswich to their credit pressed on, attacking well with ball in hand close in with Cian well to the fore and through the backs with probing runs from Adam Rudolf and Ollie Herbig before Tom White broke forward and ran through to score under the posts. Ipswich drove on again with Jake Hoskins and Cian involved again before Tom White powered over for his second try with only a few minutes left. It was all Ipswich at this point and Woodbridge were content to clear when they could in overtime to end the match Ipswich 12 Woodbridge 7.

To complete the scoring, Colchester won their tie over Woodbridge 17-7 in a thoroughly entertaining affair.

On a bright but cool morning where the optimists could clearly detect some hints of Spring and when they warmed up to the event Ipswich showed that they can play a bit which augurs well for the upcoming tour later in the month.