Norwich Union RFC

Sat 10 Dec 2022

Ipswich II

42 - 24

(HT 0-0)

Lakenham Union

Ipswich II

Lakenham Union

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Ipswich 2s 42-24 Norwich Union 10-Dec-2022

Union’s hunt for the illusive win continues as a bright start and first half performance is undone as the hosts ring the changes at half time and outscore the visitors in the second half to take and hold on to the lead.

With many league games being called off due to the freezing temperatures, including Ipswich 1^st XV who were meant to travel to play Norwich, we were surprised to hear the pitch was playable. But playable it was and in fact in great condition and bathed in sunshine as the game started.

Union started well, working their way up-field to setup a great opportunity to attack from a driven lineout on the hosts 22m. However this was repelled by the hosts, so the ball was shipped to Whalebone Man of the Match Alex Sinclair, who spotted a gap in the Ipswich defence, skipping past his opposite number then bumping off a tackle before diving over the line to score a great individual try near the left had upright.  Davis stepped up and collected the extra 2 points, to take an early 0-7 lead on the 15min mark.

Ipswich responded ten minutes later with a series of pick and goes close to the Union line eventually finding a gap wide out on the left, allowing them to score an unconverted try to narrow the score to 5-7.

Union hit back on the 30min mark with Graham Hunt showing there’s still plenty of speed left in his legs as he received a pass from Captain Matt Spenceley that put him in space on the halfway line as using the quick ball generated by an amazing turnover by Jonny Short.  Hunt then pinned back his ears and surged down the line scoring un-opposed in the corner. Davis was unable to add the conversion, the lead being stretched to 5-12.

Ipswich levelled the score to 12, scoring a converted try as they generated quick possession from a series of rucks, the ultimate surge allowing them to cross the line and score close to the posts, allowing for a simple conversion which they took to level the score at 12-12.

Union were not finished and in the last play of the half worked the ball close to the Ipswich line, Simon Pitcher taking the crash ball but instead of taking contact popped the ball to Hunt who dived over in the right hand corner for his second of the game. Davis narrowly missed the kick, nonetheless Union went in at half time 12-17 ahead.

Ipswich started the second half with a bang, firstly levelling the score at 17-15 with a score from the restart as they shipped the ball quickly to their newly replaced right wing, who ran in to score the first of his two tries.  A further try followed only two minutes later in almost identical style to give the hosts a 10-point lead only three minutes into he second half.

Ipswich extended their lead further on the 50-minute mark, again down the right wing and again from their replacement winger, stretching the lead to 32-17. Ipswich then added insult to injury scoring a try straight out of the Union playbook with a 5m driven lineout as the game entered the final quarter the hosts taking a 20-point lead at 37-17.

Union were not done and following a series of charges close to the line were awarded a penalty on the 5m and chose to have a scrum, which powered over the line allowing Matt Spenceley to dot down for a bonus point 4^th try and Davis to add the extras to take the score to 37-24.

Ipswich however had the final say in the game turning the ball over in midfield as Union pressed and shipped the ball quickly to the left, their 15 being given the space allowing him to dive over in the corner. The final score being 42-24.

Union’s final game of the year is at home to North Walsham 2s, and will kick off at 2pm on the 17^th December.

Team: Chris Spenceley, Ben Bond-Webster, Simon Pitcher, Jordan Read, Jonny Short, Matt Spenceley, Matt McLaughlin, Greg Thurston, Lloyd Davis, Alex Sinclair, Shaun Lohan, Nick Trataris, Ryan Day, Charlie Hill, Graham Hunt Replacements: Josh Crosley, Jay O’Brien

Scorers: Graham Hunt 2T, Alex Sinclair 1T, Matt Spenceley 1T, Lloyd Davis 2C

Whalebone Man of the Match: Alex Sinclair