Norwich Union RFC

Sat 17 Sep 2022

Lakenham Union

50 - 27

(HT 0-0)

Ipswich II

Lakenham Union

Ipswich II

Norwich Union 50-27 Ipswich 2s 17-Sep-2022

Norwich Union 50-27 Ipswich 2s 17-Sep-2022

Union recorded a half century in an emphatic home win against Ipswich 2s scoring eight tries, with the visitors scoring four tries to earn themselves a bonus point, the two teams treating the spectators to a round dozen tries between them.

Union were quicky off the mark, with Craig Dunbar scoring the first of his brace within barely three minutes on the clock barging over from close rand, Lloyd Davis adding the extras to take a 7-nil lead.

Union’s second try cam from veteran prop Simon Pitcher took the ball from a ruck close to the Ipswich line before popping it to number-eight Jon Spicker who took contact before offloading back to Pitcher who barged his way over to score Union’s second try, which Davis added the extras to take a 14-nil lead on the 8-minute mark.

Union scored again just after the 30-minute mark, with some great support play by Josh Crosley following a break by Spicker who completed his second assist of the half popping the ball to Crosley who charged to the lined to score.  Davis again adding the extras to take the score to 21-nil.

It was almost half time before there was any further score, which was by the visitors as they made use of the one-man advantage following Union’s Captain Matt Spenceley being given a yellow card for a high tackle, scoring an unconverted try from the resulting penalty, shipping the ball quickly and out flanking the Union defences and reducing the deficit to 21-5.

Ipswich started the second half as they finished the first again making full use of their extra man scoring a converted try straight after the break to further reduce the deficit to 21-12.

It wasn’t long before Union re-grouped with Dunbar collecting his brace, with an initial bust to make yards down field, before popping up to collect the ball again a couple of phases later racing his way to the line to score his second. Which Davis despite the wide angle slotted the conversion to take the score to 28-12 on the 45-minute mark. 

Union were again on the score sheet, this time from a Lineout following a superb chip over the ruck by Davis setting up great field position for a catch and drive, an overthrow by the Ipswich hooker was snatched out of the air by Martyn Webb who scampered to the line un-opposed to score, Davis with a rare miss from the tee missed the conversion, nonetheless the score ticked on to 33-12 as the 50-minute mark approached.

Ipswich then took their third try, this time with some direct running in mid-field their pack ultimately punching a hole in the Union defences allowing them to score a converted try and bring the score to 33-20 with less than 30 minutes of play left on the clock.

It was a full 10 minutes before either side could cross the whitewash again, but some great handling in midfield saw outside centre Ryan Dan spin the ball to left wing Shaun Lohan who cut back inside wrong footing the last defender before racing to the line to score Davis adding the two points to take the score to 40-20.

Union quickly added another try this time through Captain Matt Spenceley as he was put through a gap by a lovely pass from Pitcher who had taken a quick tap penalty. The score moving to 45-20 with the resulting Davis conversion narrowly missing.

Ipswich then record their fourth and bonus-point try, again taking route one and despite some brave defending, especially from man of the match Tom Easton they were able to break through and score a converted try to take the score to 45-27.

Union had the last word though, with a scintillating break out of defence by veteran full-back Graham Hunt taking the game deep into the visitors half, Crosley then took the ball into the Ipswich 22m before being brought down, there was quick ball from the resulting ruck, the ball being shipped quickly to right wing Charlie Hill who scored wide out in the corner, making for a difficult kick for replacement Jay O’Brien which he was unable to convert, but the try alone did nudge the score to 50-27.

From the restart Ipswich re-gained possession and mounted what would be the final attack of the game but were denied by some tenacious tackling by the home team, so following a knock on in the tackle the referee blew the final whistle.

Both Union teams are in action next week, with the 1^st XV travelling to the short trip to North Walsham 2s and the Firebirds taking on UEA at home. Both games kick off at 3pm.

Team: Martyn Webb, Tom Easton, Simon Pitcher, Chris Puttock, Johnny Short, Matt Spenceley (C), Craig Dunbar, Lloyd Davis, Luke Hill, Charlie Hill, Matthew Cook, Ryan Day, Shaun Lohan, Graham Hunt Replacements: Joe Morrell, Josh Crosley, Jay O’Brien

Scorers: Craig Dunbar 2T, Simon Pitcher 1T, Josh Crosley 1T, Martyn Webb 1T, Shaun Lohan 1T, Matt Spenceley 1T, Charlie Hill 1T, Lloyd Davis 5C from 7 attempts, Jay O’Brien 0C from 1 attempt.

MoM: Tom Easton