Walden suffered their first loss of the season against a strong Ipswich side despite a stirring comeback.
On a cold bright afternoon Walden started the game with the elements against them, Ipswich had both the slope and the strong breeze in their favour and capitalised on it scoring three unanswered tries in the first half hour with Walden struggling to get out of their own half for any length of time.
The first came after a scrum 20 metres out, the Ipswich No10 scythed through a large gap in the Walden defence to score under the posts to go 7 points up. 2 more converted tries left Walden reeling and it was 21 Nil with only 10 minutes of the half remaining.
Walden came back and finally got some go forward ball in the last 10 mins of the half when first second row Matt Holden scored going over under the posts after some strong phase play and then with the last play of the half some quick hands set right winger Adam Miles up to jink past a couple of defenders to score wide out to put Walden back in the frame at half time, score 21 -12.
Now with the elements in their favour Walden looked strong in the opening minutes of the second half, but Ipswich managed to score first with an interception try with only 5 minutes of the half played, stretching their lead to 28- 12.
Walden now ran into a purple patch when all the little things started to come together, left winger Ben Stapleton went over twice in close succession to close the gap to 28 -26.
Then Walden took the lead with still 20 minutes to play with another well worked try with Matt Holden on the end of a flowing move and taking the lead 28 – 33 such was the dominance at this period it looked like they had done enough to win the game.
But sport does not always go to script and gradually Ipswich showing a lot of heart came back into the match and they worked the ball into the Walden half, with 10 minutes left on the clock the No10 elected to drop a goal to narrow the gap to 31 – 33.
Walden were unable to close the game down and a couple of unforced errors cost them dear and Ipswich were once again in the Walden half and they scored a good try to retake the lead 36 -33 with still 2 minutes on the clock left.
Walden chasing the game made one more costly error as a loose ball was pounced on by Ipswich 30 metres out and they scored one final try with the last play of the game to stretch the lead to 41 – 33.
A case of what might have been. A great game for the neutral but that is no consolation for Walden, having fought back to take the lead to then lose the game in the last 5 minutes is a tough one to take.
The team now have a chance to regroup and bounce back with a home game v Stowmarket next Saturday 2.30pm kick off.

We are always on the look out for new players to play either in the first team in London 2NE or the Saxons (2nd team) in Eastern Counties 1West, if you are interested in joining our friendly club please contact either info@swrfc.co.uk or graham.marshall2@ntlworld.com