IPSWICH Rugby Club are not the only team in town to have hit form recently.Ipswich YM are fasting gaining themselves a reputation as the entertainers in Eastern Counties Two since Nigel Seaman took over as player-coach.

IPSWICH Rugby Club are not the only team in town to have hit form recently.

Ipswich YM are fasting gaining themselves a reputation as the entertainers in Eastern Counties Two since Nigel Seaman took over as player-coach.

They are the top scorers in the division having amassed 345 points and, fresh from trouncing Lakenham Hewett last week, there is talk they could yet mount a late bid for promotion.

“I really think we can go up this year,” said Seaman, whose side currently sit in third place in the division behind Haverhill & District and Harwich & Dovercourt. “I don't know why but I'm sure that Harwich are going to slip up.

“If we beat them in the Suffolk Plate then they are going to have to come to our place in the league on the last day of the season and it could be a winner takes all situation. That's got to be our aim.”

Seaman took over the reins at Ipswich YM in October and has overseen a big improvement in the club's fortunes on the field.

The 35-year-old believes his side is geared up for life in Eastern Counties One having beaten teams at that level in cup competitions already this season.

“We are really building for next year and hopefully that will be in Eastern Counties One,” added Seaman, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.

“The game that showed we can cut it at that level was when we beat Woodbridge in the Plate.

“That result proved that we belong at a higher level and it proved to the boys that they can do it.”

Seaman, who works as a PE officer at Chelmsford prison, was a late starter to the game, playing his first match when he was 25 while he was in the army with the Royal Anglian Regiment.

“There was a lot of competition between regiments and, at the time, I was a lot bigger than I am now,” added the former Chantry High School student.

“One of the army majors looked me up and down and said 'you're playing' and I haven't looked back really.”

He joined Ipswich YM in 2003 and has become part of the furniture at the club despite a brief spell coaching Thurston.

The Ipswich YM squad has certainly taken to Seaman's style of coaching and believes the squad have started to enjoy their rugby once again.

“We've got around 28 people coming to training every Tuesday at the moment which is a massive improvement since I arrived.

“I really went back to basics in training because if you can master them then the game becomes so much easier.

“We are playing running rugby and letting the ball do the work.

“It's great to see the lads supporting each other when they are going forward - that's why we have scored so many tries.”

A crunch match against Mistley awaits Seaman and Co. this weekend with the club feeling they have a score to settle.

“I know the lads think that we owe them one because from what I understand that game was a bit of a turning point for them.

“They were 8-0 up at half time at their place but just imploded in the second half by all accounts and I suppose it marked a bit of a watershed for them.”

Don't bet against Ipswich YM cranking up the pressure on their promotion rivals this weekend.