Bank cash in on poor Ipswich performance

RUGBY UNION

Bank of England 91 Ipswich 10

IPSWICH were swept aside in a ten-minute burst of pace and power by a rampant Bank of England side in London League Division Two North.

The early exchanges did not hint at what was to come, as Ipswich more than matched the Bank forwards in scrum and line-out.

Indeed it was Ipswich who applied the early pressure but some poor kicking by the Ipswich backs allowed the Bank threequarter line to show glimpses of their ability.

Bank attacked from a loose clearance kick, and drove deep into the Ipswich 22 metres, from where their scrum-half sneaked under a defending tackle to score the only try of the opening 25 minutes.

It remained 5-0 until the last few minutes of the half, when Bank unleashed a series of assaults to which Ipswich had no answer.

In truth, the Ipswich side as a whole did not defend well. Tackles were ineffective and players who should have been stopped on the gain line ran through two or three tackles before being brought down.

Bank's backs were talented and in particular their South African fly-half carved his way through the Ipswich midfield at will, sending his support through the gaps that opened with ease.

At half time Ipswich tried to re-group, but there was more of the same for the first ten minutes of the second half, by which time Bank were 91-3 up and looking good for 100-plus.

It was then that Ipswich started to play with some pride.

They maintained the ball and kept Bank on the back foot for the remainder of the game and even managed a consolation try.

Woodford 54 Sudbury 23

SUDBURY travelled to Woodford with an under-strength side but cannot complain about the result following a below-par performance.

They were soon behind, Woodford scoring after four minutes through full-back Moody in the corner.

It was not to be Chris Withey's day, as he missed with a kick at goal from a penalty while his opposite number extended Woodford's lead with two penalties of his own.

Two tries, one of which was converted, and a penalty extended their lead to 26 points before Sudbury got on the board when Jim Lorking scrambled over the line from a line-out which was won by Rob Rendall.

Sudbury started the second half with a flourish. Woodford tried to pull a maul down and received a yellow card. Sudbury kicked for touch, won the line-out and forced Woodford into giving away another penalty. This time the visitors opted for the scrum and drove over.

Woodford then scored when their scrum-half picked up from a five-metre scrum and found the gap.

Sudbury replied when a kick forward by Jon Coone was picked up at speed by Marinus Muller, who touched down behind the posts and converted himself.

The home side then started to dominate possession and they scored three more tries as they found gaps in the Sudbury defence.

Sudbury did score a consolation try by their man of the match Rendall on the final whistle.

Hadleigh 22 Brentwood 14

AFTER three weeks in which they flattered to deceive, Hadleigh finally began to show their true mettle in this game.

From the outset they took control of the game and, with the exception of a lapse of concentration in the final five minutes they maintained that control scoring five tries in the process.

The pack were dominant throughout with Leadbeater and Roper commanding the line-out and Jones, Muirhead and Leonard rampant round the park.

The latter pitching in with two tries highlighting his superb support work.

Outside Eady and Fraser shone along with Fijian outside half Namadila, all three combining to put Winters over for his first try of the season.

Of these Namadila appears to be a diamond in the rough. Despite a few rough edges to his game he showed some neat touches in his play and possesses a killer sidestep which he demonstrated for his try.

The last name on the try scorer's sheet was Joseland.

The veteran back rower has found a sparkling vein of try scoring form during the opening games of the season scoring eight tries in four games including this effort against Brentwood.

Having shared last seasons top try scorer award he is apparently determined to be out on his own this year.

This week Hadleigh travel to West Norfolk. The King's Lynn side are never a pushover, especially at home, and Hadleigh will have to continue in a similar vein next week to return with a result.

Stowmarket 16 Wanstead 7

STOWMARKET not only remain leaders they also proved that they have strength in depth.

With eight first XV players unavailable and constant changes up until Friday evening, Stowmarket still beat a strong Wanstead side.

From a line-out the home pack drove towards the Wanstead line and hooker Neil Dick broke away and scored. Stowmarket did not ease the pressure and pace, and Shaddick kicked another penalty.

Early into the second half Crowe was replaced by Taylor after receiving treatment for a hand and hip injury.

Losing the influential No 8 didn't halt the home side. Norfolk, Smith, Uuru and Thomas kept breaking the gain line with powerful runs and with time on the ball Randall and centres Beaton and Tuitubou made the visiting defence work hard.

From a scrum the pack drove Wanstead over the line and Norfolk left the ball for veteran scrum half Relf to open his team try account.

Stowmarket hadn't faltered until a well-placed kick from the Wanstead fly half gave the winger space to run on to the ball and score.

Captain Warner suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Zimbabwean debutant Robertson.

Although Wanstead ran at the home side the defence and commitment prevailed and gave Stowmarket a well deserved two points.

Felixstowe 17 March Braza 5

ON a day were the weather was more suited to cricket than rugby, Felixstowe returned to league action after an absence of three years with a fine victory in their opening EC3N division game.

Felixstowe were on the scoreboard after 20 minutes when Rob Brewster forced his way over the line from five yards out after some good forward play.

This was followed only a minute later by a fine build-up and finish by centre Paul Fuller to make the score 10-0.

The rest of the half was mainly played in the March half but without any further score.

Five minutes into the second half, the Felixstowe fly-half added a third try under the post and added the conversion to make the score 17-0.

Felixstowe seemed to take their foot of the pedal at this stage and March came more into the game.

They were soon rewarded with a try in the corner after the Felixstowe defence had stood strong in the middle of the pitch under the posts.

This was the end of the scoring in a game in which both sets of players where tiring towards the end due to the heat, but still gave their all.

This was a game played in the right spirit by both teams and was entertaining for the large crowd.

This week Felixstowe travel to their old friends Harwich in the next round of league games.