RUGBY: A revitalised Ipswich pack will be looking to provide the platform for a second consecutive victory when Woodford visit Humber Doucy Lane tomorrow.A week ago Ipswich stormed to their biggest win of the season, outclassing Thurrock away by 49 points to 13.
A revitalised Ipswich pack will be looking to provide the platform for a second consecutive victory when Woodford visit Humber Doucy Lane tomorrow.
A week ago Ipswich stormed to their biggest win of the season, outclassing Thurrock away by 49 points to 13.
Much of the credit is due to a new forward's coach, Phil Dickin, formerly with Bristol, who has just linked up with the Ipswich club.
"He has worked on technique, especially with the front five and it has proved a revelation," said Guy Atherton, the Ipswich coach.
"The guys were all putting in the effort in training, but he has given them a few extra tips, tightened things up generally and those minor adjustments combined to make a huge difference in the way we played at Thurrock."
With greater dominance in the forwards Ipswich were able to release the backs to run in plenty of tries.
In addition hooker Danny Reeve regularly found the target men with his lineout throwing so Ipswich enjoyed far more possession than had been the case in recent games.
This week in training Dickin has again been working with the pack to ensure the quality is maintained for tomorrow's game in the London League Division Two North.
Ipswich have been forced to make one change because of injury in the forwards, and another in the backs because of unavailability.
Rob Shurety who has been playing exceptionally well, is unfortunately ruled out for the next six weeks when he damaged knee ligaments at Thurrock.
Darren Hines is also unavailable because of work commitments.
Alex Primmer replaces Shurety in the second row, Simon Hughes switches from full back to centre in place of Hines, with Mark Harding moving up from the Magpies to the full back berth.
Ipswich are currently fifth from the bottom of the table with Woodford four places above them.
Three Ipswich teams are at home tomorrow, Ipswich Magpies take on Woodford's seconds while Ipswich Barbarians play Stowmarket seconds in a Merit table fixture.
Ipswich: Evans, Reeve, Stephens, Primmer, Brigginshaw, Rush, Jeff Searle, Murphy,
B Kerr, Van Heerden, Jon Searle, Hughes, Goodall, Ryan, Harding. Replacements: Johnson,
O Bolton, Price.
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