Sat 12 Oct 2024
IPSWICH YM RUFC First XV v WYMONDHAM 2’s RUFC Match Report
12th October 2024
The YM welcomed Wymondham 2s to the Rushmere ground for their second home fixture of the 24/5 season on what turned out to be an increasingly inclement afternoon of weather. Within ten minutes of the game commencing the rain started to fall, increased throughout the second half only to be replaced by late afternoon sunshine once the players, officials and supporters were back in the clubhouse.
Wymondham 2s were unsurprisingly a relatively youthful looking side but were well organised and drew a number of penalties from the home side during the opening exchanges. Indeed, a penalty against Ipswich YM for holding on in a ruck on the edge of their 22 was duly kicked by Wymondham after six minutes of play for the visitors to take an early lead 0-3.
But YM started to build some of their recent and impressive first half momentum from the restart with both wing forwards, Ali Margets and Jake Goodwin making strong direct runs at the opposition defence and regular headway over the gain-line. The YM made their first foray into the visitors 22 and made it count. Ben Hockley’s surging run off a ruck allowed scrum-half Toby Ruffles to generate quick ball at the breakdown and snipe over to score. Barny Horsfield, on his return after 15 months absence due to injury, converted the try to take YM into a 7-3 lead.
In a repeat of recent matches on the road, YM quickly consolidated their lead with another try generated by sustained pressure and quick recycling of the ball. YM number 8, Andrew Goodbourn scoring with Horsfield converting to extend the lead to 14-3.
A Wymondham player was given a yellow card for a high tackle on George Hendry on 28 minutes and some great exit play from their own half by Goodwin and Ruffles saw the YM surge back into the Wymondham half and draw further infringements in the process. The YM line out was again operating well and the quick, quality ball it generated allowed Ruffles to score again after a mazy run through the Wymondham defence with the conversion being secured by Horsfield for the half-time score of 21-3 to the YM being the result.
The second half was played in almost incessant rain making handling and footwork increasingly challenging for both teams. But an attacking YM line out quickly led to Margets powering over the try line for a deserved score and the Bonus Point try which was again converted by Horsfield for a 28-3 score line.
Almost from the restart Goodwin intercepted a Wymondham pass in midfield to break away for another converted try. YM 35 – Wymondham 3. Coach Jim Clark rang the changes with some substitutions to bring some fresh legs and protect some others.
The YM were making the most of the tricky conditions and were confident in their play. Forwards and backs moving the ball across the pitch allowed Adam Clark to score in the corner with Adam O’Leary, taking over kicking duties, securing a tough conversion to extend the YM lead to 42-3 on 65 minutes.
Hendry cleverly intercepted another Wymondham pass to score a further try for YM under the posts which was converted by O’Leary before Ruffles secured his hat trick after another strong passage of play from the forward pack close to the Wymondham try line. The tricky conversion was missed but YM had taken their score beyond the half century of points, leading 54-3 with five minutes of play remaining.
Those five minutes allowed Wymondham to show what they could do and, after some admittedly sloppy defensive play from the YM, scored a well worked try in the corner with the last play of the game. The very difficult conversion kick was also secured successfully to leave the final score Ipswich YM 54 vs Wymondham 2’s 10.
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