IPSWICH RUGBY CLUB First XV v IPSWICH YM RUFC First XV Match Report

23rd September 2023

As one would expect, support was strong and it must be said that the ground staff had done an excellent job in preparing a superb playing surface.

From the start, Ipswich RFC were very keen to kick possession away and rely on their forward pack to regain possession in the eventual breakdowns. This they achieved with the YM conceding the first of numerous penalties in the early exchanges. But YM’s defence stood up to this initial Ipswich RFC onslaught helped by the Ipswich RFC attack repeatedly drifting largely sideways across the wide pitch enabling the YM defence to move up and have the touch line as assistance.

The YM’s Josh Rhind won a turnover on 14 minutes and broke free of challenges to release inside centre, George Hendry who surged forward with winger Austin Bulgarelli – on first XV debut - in support. Josh Rhind collected the ball again in a ruck close to the Ipswich RFC try line and battled over for the first score which was converted by YM full-back James Tabor. Ipswich RFC 0 v YM 7.

The YM, as per the opening fixture the previous week, fell into a pattern of conceding too many penalties and any momentum and field position disappeared. The YM scum was under severe pressure all day from an athletic and powerful Ipswich RFC pack who started to win scrum penalties on Ipswich put-ins or who benefited from the scrappy ball that was occasionally the result. The YM defence initially stood up to this pressure but it was only a matter of time before Ipswich RFC’s sustained efforts were rewarded. Winning a 5m lineout following another penalty, Ipswich RFC’s resulting maul took them over for an unconverted try. Ipswich RFC 5 – YM 7.

Ipswich RFC were pretty much able to rerun this play shortly thereafter. Another penalty conceded by the YM resulted in an attacking lineout for Ipswich RFC and the same result with a try in the opposite corner. The conversion was successful giving Ipswich RFC a 12-7 lead.
From the restart, the YM gained territory in the Ipswich RC half and inside centre George Hendry was cynically felled by a neck-high tackle that the referee adjudged did not warrant any further sanction than a penalty. James Tabor kicked the penalty to narrow Ipswich RFC’s lead to 12-10.
In the final phase of play before half-time, Tyler Baumguertel, was given a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown although it appeared he was not the culprit! The half time score, Ipswich RFC 12, Ipswich YM 10.

The second half could not have started better for Ipswich RFC and worse for the YM. The restart kick by Ipswich RFC generated a moment of indecision in the YM defence and allowed the ball to be collected by Ipswich RC and run in a frustratingly easy try. The conversion was missed. Ipswich RFC 17, Ipswich YM 10.
The YM dusted themselves down and regrouped to win a penalty, with Chris Blom, coming on for a Dog-tired and injured Josh Rhind. Unfortunately the penalty was narrowly missed. Blom provided some protection to YM scrum half, Tyen Muller, who had to survive off scraps and enormous pressure all afternoon on his welcome return after a long-term injury. The YM repeatedly demonstrated their running threat, far more effectively than the Ipswich RFC back line, when they did get the ball. The problem was that they did not get a lot it compared to the dominant Ipswich RFC forwards and the quality supply they delivered for their backs.

Another scrum penalty led to a successful kick to extend the Ipswich RFC lead to 20-10 on the hour but Ipswich YM came back again after a typically strong rampaging run from Chris Blom who was stopped just shy of the Ipswich RFC try line. A clear and cynical hand in the ruck by an Ipswich RFC player drew a penalty advantage – but nothing else – and Tyan Muller gathered the ball and sniped over for a deserved try which was converted by James Tabor to narrow the score to 20-17 in Ipswich RFC’s favour.

It was now time for Ipswich RFC to turn the screw and from the kick-off the pressure was applied and a knock-on by the YM led to a scrum from which Ipswich RC’s pack were awarded a penalty. Winning the line out the Ipswich RC backs at last switched play effectively using the width of the pitch to score a well-worked try which was converted to extend their lead to 27-17.

Ipswich YM surprised and silenced the ebullient home support with another try on 75 minutes with Chris Blom breaking through the Ipswich RFC line allowing George Hendry to send a perfectly weighted box kick into space behind the Ipswich RFC defence who were a little bit too casual in gathering the ball allowing George to win the ball and drop over the try line to score. James Tabor was again successful with his conversion kick. Ipswich RFC 27 – Ipswich YM 24.

In the final minute of this pulsating game, Ipswich RFC were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and won an attacking line out on the Ipswich YM 22. The opportunity was seized upon by Ipswich RFC who worked a well taken training ground routine with a short throw and exchange back to the hooker who combined for the decisive score in the corner against an exhausted Ipswich YM defence.
Final Score: Ipswich Rugby Club 32 v Ipswich YM RUFC 24.

It has been many decades since the last time both Ipswich teams had faced each other in the same league fixture and this was a fine game played in good spirit in front of lively support. Each and every player put in an exceptional shift in a tight game with the final score not truly reflecting the narrow ebbs and flows of the match. The YM know where they need to improve but there are plenty more positives and with first XV regulars set to return in the coming weeks the win the team deserves is surely imminent.

We are YM!