Ipswich U16's start the Suffolk Cup with a win

With the sun shining and blue skies over head, it was as close to perfect conditions as you could get on a Sunday afternoon in January at HDL. The U16's were the last of many games throughout the day against a very strong Colchester team and both teams had high expectations and wanted to get off to a winning start in the Suffolk Cup with only Bury SE left to play.

The match couldn't have got off to better start when the visitors start failed to make the 10 meters and Ipswich ran onto ball, running straight through their team and scoring straight away. Colchester pulled themselves back to together, re-grouped and started to use their larger pack to their advantage with some strong scrums, rucks and runs up the pitch which led to their reply around the 10 minute mark. Ipswich composed themselves and started to play the free flowing running rugby we have become so used to seeing, with number 10 Harry calling the plays in the back line, Ethan and Miles combining well to put James and Kit into space, forwards working hard to win the ball and some great off loads and running lines, giving Ipswich momentum and pushing Colchester back, before a ruck 10 meters out, secured by the forwards passed out by Joe onto a running Harry who skipped past a couple before diving over the line, converted by Ethan.

The match then started to go back and forth in a very physical encounter, before Colchester went over again only for Ipswich to hit back with another try of their own, but again Colchester came back strong and tied the scores, with both kickers missing some conversions.

Both teams evenly matched and Ipswich's forwards started to show what they could do in the loose with some great runs, tackles and turn overs from Zack, VJ, Charlie, Alfie, Eddie , Bobbie and the returning OX (who it was great so see back after such a long time off with an ankle injury), before with 15 minutes to go Ipswich were called off side in front of the posts and Colchester punished Ipswich by taking a 3 point lead.

Both teams were fired up and desperate to gain some sort of foot hold on the game and build a try scoring opportunity with a interception from Fazil, he almost made it, yet for a great cover tackle from the Colchester winger working hard for his team. But this was a warning shot for Colchester as with only 2 minutes to go another interception from Fazil this time within his own half and with a empty pitch in front of him, ran the try in much to the joy of this team mates and the Ipswich crowd. The conversion was missed, but Ipswich had the lead with one minute to go.

Ipswich gathered the restart and rather than playing it safe decided to run it back, working their way back to the Colchester 22, where there was a ruck with Colchester infringing and penalty to Ipswich much to the delight of the players, crowd and coaching team. But it wasn't over yet a panic set in with Joe holding onto the ball, before someone called for posts and on the advise of (just kick it towards the posts and out the back), Bobbie did just that and managed to get it between the posts for a 27-22 win to Ipswich.

Massive congratulations to the boys and Colchester as the game was a hard fought physical encounter and played in the right spirit. Good luck to Colchester for the rest of their season.