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Another excellent Chowndog report v Ipswich

Another excellent Chowndog report v Ipswich

William Meston20 Oct 2021 - 08:36

Ipswich 2nd XV 21 - 21 Mistley 1st XV Mistley 2nd XV 12 - 24 Aldeburgh 1st XV

On Saturday, minnows Mistley engaged in battle with league leaders, Ipswich 2nd XV, and emerged with a well deserved draw which left the hosts visibly shell-shocked.
The match started auspiciously for the visitors, when, off of a crash ball by No. 8 Jon Vine from a scrum on Mistley’s ten metre line, a set move saw full-back Dicky Johnson join the line at speed. Fixing his defender he passed the ball wide to left wing Rhys Thompson who sprinted thirty metres down the touch-line before using deceptive strength to avoid being bundled out by the covering full-back. A couple of phases later, fly-half Matt Course deftly chipped over the defence, gathered the ball and dived over in the corner.
Unfortunately, this momentum wasn’t sustained as Mistley were repeatedly penalised for being over zealous at the breakdown. Ipswich’s canny scrum-half exploited this by kicking for territory with long range touch finders or quick tap penalties. Eventually, a lack of alertness resulted in their tight head prop crashing over from short range. Then, not long after, their openside flanker spotted a gap in the defensive line and glided over the try line. Ipswich’s fly-half brilliantly converted both tries from out wide.
At this juncture, Mistley could have easily capitulated. However, steely resolve in defence and some creativity in attack meant the visitors dominated the rest of the half. A fumbled ball on halfway was fly-hacked forward by outside centre Matthieu Barriere, and some further silky dribbling skills by the Frenchman almost resulted in a try, but Ipswich’s outside centre managed to dot the ball down over the try line.
Then, in Mistley’s twenty-two, inside centre Chris Parrott improvised a tap pass to Barriere under pressure from a blitz defence. This led to a gap which the outside centre sailed through and then passed out wide to Thompson. The wing put on the afterburners and was only twenty metres short of the try line when he was bundled into touch.
Good kick chase pressure from right wing Chris Chown, followed by some fearless tackling, helped stop the hosts from counter attacking, and the hosts spent most of their possession playing with back-foot ball.
Shortly thereafter, a free flowing passage of play saw Chown make a sizeable carry, when, having latched onto a long, flat pass by Parrott, he cut infield against the grain of the drift defence. Ipswich were subsequently penalised at the breakdown and scrum-half Jack Tompkins elected to kick; unfortunately, his attempt glanced both posts.
Now, with the visitors firing on all cylinders, Vine and blindside flanker Jesse Fearn effected numerous turnovers, which resulted in territory and possession that would ultimately pay dividends. A huge carry down the middle of the pitch by second row Ollie Williams, followed by efficacious carries in the tight by loose-head prop Jack Cuddilh and hooker Lewis Stratton took Mistley close to Ipswich’s try line.
From a tap penalty five metres out, second row Charlie Barrett proved unstoppable and he touched the ball down on the try line.
The majority of the second half was played between each team’s twenty-two as the defensive intensity ramped up. However, there were some flirtations with the try line, and it was Ipswich who struck first through a fortuitous passage of play.
After being pushed back from the kick-off, their fly-half put a speculative kick into the backfield which had Mistley hastily retreating. However, Ipswich’s left wing was able to outpace the defence and he passed back inside to his outside centre who coasted in by the posts.
Despite this setback, Mistley worked their way back upfield with hard carries through the middle by reserve flanker Ed Barrie and tight-head prop Jason Veares, as well as aerial missiles from hand by Course.
After a couple of phases off the back of a well orchestrated line-out move, in an impromptu slick interchange move, Course hit Vine on the run. The No. 8 slalomed through a couple of failed tackles, then flicked the ball out the back of his left hand back inside to Course; the fly-half finishing off the sumptuous move near the right corner.
Thereafter, over a period of ten minutes in which Mistley had the territorial advantage through good continuity, Course drew the score level at twenty-one all through two nerveless penalties.
The visitors continued to press, but just as it looked like there might be an opening, a flat pass from Course was picked off by an Ipswich player who raced away towards the try line. Fortunately though, Parrott was able to get back to tackle him - the force of which knocked the ball on.
After a brief spell of chess near the halfway line, Ipswich were penalised at the breakdown. Course pointed to the posts and struck the forty-five metre penalty beautifully. It easily had the distance, but unfortunately it sailed a metre wide.
With time fast running out, Ipswich made a last ditch attempt to steal the win, and if not for a forward pass, would have succeeded. Then, a minute later, with the last play they laid siege to the Mistley line, but after stoic defence, a turnover by Cuddilh brought an end to proceedings.
This was a match which truly showcased how much the team has improved over the last few years. For, unlike the demoralising 2017/18 relegation season when Mistley were getting crucified by fifty plus points by the likes of Ipswich, the village side can now very much compete with the bigger clubs.
The 1st XV next play at home against the new league leaders, Sudbury 2nd XV, this Saturday - 3pm kick-off. This will most likely be the toughest match of the season so far, so support would be most welcome. There is a bar in the new clubhouse which currently serves bottled alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
By all accounts, Mistley 2nd XV also put on a spirited display at home against Aldeburgh on Saturday. Although a loss, the Marauders’ teamwork was in stark contrast to their heavy defeat to Ipswich 4th XV two weeks ago, and bodes well for their away match against Bury St. Edmunds 4th XV this Saturday.
Special mention must go to debutant openside flanker Jack Martin-King, who excelled in defence, whilst also tirelessly running intelligent support lines in attack.
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