FOLLOWING their successful venture to Sudbury in their final pre-season fixture the previous week, Rushmere-based Medite Ipswich YM were in a very positive mood ahead of their Tetley Vase first round tie at home to league rivals Stowmarket.

FOLLOWING their successful venture to Sudbury in their final pre-season fixture the previous week, Rushmere-based Medite Ipswich YM were in a very positive mood ahead of their Tetley Vase first round tie at home to league rivals Stowmarket.

Freshly-promoted visitors Stowmarket could use this tie to gauge their league opposition and, with no pressure on them, really give the hosts a run for their money.

With club captain Justin Williams absent from his second row berth and vice-captain Matt Donaldson working, the YM pack looked to be up against it as Stow fielded an experienced, heavy unit.

It wasn't the forwards that found the going tough though as things got under way, as the YM backs looked decidedly rusty in the early stages.

With the strong wind at their backs, the visitors kicked a lot of their possession into the hosts' half via the boot of fly half John Lawson. Counter attacks from the YM rearguard were fruitful, although errors at the breakdowns by both sides kept the referee busy and disrupted play.

YM centre Tim Styles created the first scoring opportunity when he made decent inroads into the visitors' half. Support was there and a chip over the top led to a penalty being conceded inside the 22.

Scrum half Phil Watts converted the kick for a three point YM advantage.

That lead was quickly nullified during a flash rain shower when Stowmarket winger Dave Shaddock carved through a ragged YM defence from inside his own half for a fine solo effort that Lawson converted.

Deputising skipper Dan Everitt and coach Noel Holloway read the riot act, made a few changes to the line up during the interval and generally breathed some life into a disappointing first-half YM display.

After the break things looked far more promising for the home side.

Watts missed a penalty attempt from long range but concerted pressure from the YM kept the visitors pinned back.

From a scrum in front of the posts, number eight Derek Cawston picked up and fed Watts who timed his pass out to the substitute Ian Girling on the wing perfectly, enabling the new man to slide over untouched.

Watts' conversion attempt glanced wide of the post but having gained the lead, the hosts looked far more relaxed and began to really get in stride.

A second try sealed the match when lock Barrie Alford, having been treated for a nasty head cut earlier in the game, barged his way over from close range after several surges at the Stowmarket line by the YM forwards following a lineout deep in the Stow 22. This time Watts was successful to advance the score to 15-7.

Stowmarket tried valiantly to run the ball at the YM defenders but it became clear that their pack had run out of steam and the match ended with the hosts well on top.

The result bodes well for the YM's opening league fixture at Lakenham next weekend, where a hard-fought battle is always guaranteed.