26th October – Queen’s Field
Result: Aldeburgh 28 Ipswich 15
A great day at Aldeburgh
A close fought game, played with commitment and good spirit, preceded by the first VP lunch of the season with a very special guest, made this an Aldeburgh afternoon to savour.
Club President, Derek Wyatt, (a former Ipswich player himself) invited one of the English game’s greats, Budge Rogers, to the VP Lunch. Budge played 485 times for Bedford (where he and Derek played together), was the most-capped England player of the amateur era, captained England, toured South Africa with the Lions in 1962 and, after retiring from playing, was, among many other things, a chairman of England selectors and President of the RFU. After lunch, he gave a charming and witty speech then stayed to watch the match with obvious enjoyment.
There was much to enjoy. Aldeburgh fielded a full team for the first time this season with the new lads who have joined recently showing that they were building their skills and coming together as a team. There was a rumour that the Ipswich second team match had been cancelled with the third’s squad being strengthened as a result. If so, it worked out well for both teams by ensuring that there was a good balance between them.
Aldeburgh’s lack of specialist front row forwards meant that scrums were uncontested. Ipswich made use of their powerful forwards in the loose to good effect. On the other hand, Aldeburgh moved the ball swiftly in the backs. A loop by fly half, Ed Robson, behind his inside centre, Ben Watts, gave Ed room for a kick deep into the corner leading to a period of sustained Aldeburgh pressure. Eventually, from a scrum they moved the ball briskly along the back line to winger, Adam Hateley, with Ed following up to take the pass and score in the corner. He kicked the conversion from the touch line.
Despite the score, the match remained even. After twenty minutes, the Ipswich scrum half ran wide from a scrum ten metres out then switched direction to slice through the Aldeburgh line and touch down under the posts. The conversion was missed.
Ten minutes later, Ipswich showed the potential of their backs when they got the ball to their right wing who was seriously quick. He was finally tackled just short of the line but the big No 8 won the ball and powered his way over the line. Another missed conversion left a narrow lead of 10-7.
After more Aldeburgh pressure, a clearance kick was fielded by Adam Hateley who linked with full back Stephen Anker, always dangerous when running from deep. He made ground, kicked, Ed Robson was involved and new winger, Kieran Ellis, looked as though he had scored in the corner but had put a foot in touch. All was not lost as the referee had been playing a penalty advantage. He brought the teams right back across the pitch to a point ten metres out. A tap penalty was taken which the Aldeburgh forwards drove over with Toby Mann, flanker, getting the touch down. Ed again converted to give the home team a narrow 14-10 half time lead.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Aldeburgh probably just having the edge in the backs but the forward battle being evenly balanced. Both sides tackled ferociously. Aldeburgh made the first breakthrough after five minutes with a good break by Toby then the ball was kept alive with some stunning short passing which was so quick your correspondent didn’t manage to note who was involved. The try was scored by Ed who again converted.
At 21-10, the game could have run away from Ipswich but nothing of the sort. Following sustained Ipswich pressure, Aldeburgh conceded yet another penalty, caused problems for themselves by arguing which lost them another ten metres putting Ipswich within striking distance of the line. They capitalised on it by taking a tap penalty and piling over. The conversion was missed which could have been costly as, at this stage of the game, the only points difference was from the three conversions.
However, Aldeburgh settled the game beyond doubt with a fourth try after 25 minutes of the second half. They were pressing the Ipswich line. Jon Hunt, back in the pack at No 8, threw one of his trade mark dummies but was still held just short of the line. From the ruck, scrum half, Fred Precious, got the ball way to Ed who supplied a razor sharp quick pass to Ben Watts running a good line to break through and dive over. Ed again converted.
Despite their continuing efforts, neither team could get a further advantage leaving the final score 28-15.
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