As the famous song goes, Town fans never feel more like singing the blues when Ipswich win and Norwich lose.

And there was double cause for celebration at the weekend when, in addition to Town beating Fulham 2-1 at Portman Road and the Canaries losing to Wolves, a band of Blues fans living in Australasia defeated their Norwich counterparts in the first-ever ‘Derby Down Under’.

Sydney’s Centennial Park was given the honour of hosting the inaugural dress rehearsal of the Old Farm Derby, which takes place for real at Portman Road a week on Saturday,

And in what Blues boss Mick McCarthy will hope is a good omen, Town won 5-3 on penalties after the match ended in a dramatic 5-5 draw.

Ed Parker, chairman of the Australasian branch of the Ipswich Town Supporters’ Club, gave us his match report: “On a brilliant sunny Sydney Saturday afternoon, early season bragging rights were up for grabs.

“And on a pitch that left a bit to be desired, what some of the players lacked in skill, youth and fitness was more than compensated by determined enthusiasm.

“There was a good turn-out and Town went 2-0 up before being pegged back to 2-2. But another burst of goals saw Town 4-2 up at the break.

“Norwich would not take that lying down, bringing themselves back into the game at 4-4. Leo Chandiok thought he had scored the winner to put Town 5-4 ahead and we tried to hold on for victory before conceding in the last minute.

“It was a hard-fought draw that was played in a respectful spirit.

“We agreed that none of us could handle playing extra time and so we went straight to penalties.

“After trying to find the exact location of the penalty spot, a nerve-racking few minutes saw Town keeper Ollie Smith save one and Town score all five of theirs to win the penalty shoot-out 5-3.

“There was a wonderful feeling of camaraderie between the two sets of players and supporters, and plans are afoot to make the game an annual event.”

The match raised funds for the Norwich Community Sports Foundation, the Australian mental health charity Beyond Blue and the George Woodward Fund.

George Woodward, of Ipswich, was just 21 months old when he was diagnosed with Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a condition which affects the spinal cord and causes severe disability. To donate, visit http://georgewoodwardfund.weebly.com.