Sat 14 Dec 2024
MISTLEY RUFC v IPSWICH YM RUFC Match Report
14th December 2024
The YM were the visitors to Mistley’s compact pitch on this typically cold and clear December afternoon. Both teams have been on largely winning runs since the first few games of the season. One of those games was the YM’s first home game of the current season when they ran out victors against Mistley so this return fixture was always likely to be close with the home side keen to maintain their recent run and stop the YM from doing the double.
That intent was clear from the kick-off with Mistley seeming to surprise the YM team with their speed and aggression that led to their forwards powering over the try line and a successful conversion for an early 7-0 lead.
This stirred the YM and a good re-start saw some excellent work by Jake Goodwin for to YM surge deep into the Mistley 22 which was recycled quickly and moved through the back line for winger Joe Pearse to score a good team try in the corner. Barny Horsfield slotted the tricky conversion to draw the scores level after ten minutes 7-7.
But after a period of balanced play the YM fell off too many tackles to allow the Mistley outside centre to canter through for the home side’s second try which was again converted for a 14-7 score line.
The officiating during the game was somewhat selective and confusing for both sides at times with Mistley benefiting from an infringement in front of the posts which was kicked to extend their lead to 17-7 after 30 minutes.
YM responded again and were awarded an overdue penalty for offside which Barny kicked into the corner for an attacking lineout. The YM forwards secured the lineout and drove towards the try line where the Mistley defence were adjudged to have collapsed the maul with a penalty try the result and a halftime score of 17-14.
The second-half saw Mistley score an early converted try under the posts to re-establish their lead 24-14 before YM inside centre George Hendry was shown the yellow card for deliberate knock-on. The YM responded to being one player down and built field position before a flare-up in a ruck led to a brace of yellow cards – one for each side with Joe Pearse leaving the field for 10 minutes just as George returned.
Nevertheless, the YM were dominating play and with Mistley repeatedly offside moved ever forward towards the try line. YM Captain, Ben Hockley, was leading the charge until a nasty knee injury halted his progress. Thanks and respect are due to the Mistley forwards for immediately halting their play and alerting the referee to the injury. It was good to see Ben eventually walk off the pitch with some assistance with the extent of his injury as yet unknown but hopefully not as serious as it first looked.
The YM maintained the pressure allowing scrum half, Toby Ruffles, to snipe off the base of the ruck for a try which Barny converted to close the score to 24-21.
A subsequent penalty to YM 40m out was kicked by Barny to level the scores at 24-24 as the clock clicked down into the final quarter of the game.
Some fresh legs for the YM saw Ched Harvey – after an excellent game – replaced by Sean Frisby. But some neat play by Mistley’s inside centre chipped the ball over the advancing YM defence and gathered to score a try under the posts which he converted for an ultimately decisive 31-24 lead.
The YM were not finished and bounced back to take the game back into the Mistley half with the ball moved through the back line for YM winger Matt Houlden to score a try in the corner. The difficult conversion would have levelled the scores and, perhaps to the neutral fan, would have delivered a fair result that the match deserved but it slid agonisingly wide of the uprights to deliver Mistley their win and a final score of Mistley RUFC 31 v Ipswich YM RUFC 29.
This was always going to be a close game between two evenly matched sides and that was exactly the outcome. Both teams took their opportunities well when they arose on a tight pitch that was difficult for all underfoot. It was an exciting and close game for both sets of supporters to watch reflecting the superb efforts of the players.
WE ARE THE Y!
