Sat 13 Sep 2025, 15:00
IPSWICH YM RUFC First XV v SAFFRON WALDEN RFC - Match Report
13th September 2025
Ipswich YM welcomed Saffron Walden to its Rushmere ground for the second league fixture of the 2025/26 season on the new centenary pitch adjacent to the clubhouse. The pitch looked in marvellous condition although the dark clouds in the distance looked rather ominous from a weather forecasting perspective. Both teams were well supported and it was good to see and hear a decent number of Saffron Walden supporters who had made the lengthy journey from North Essex to cheer on their team.
An injury to YM Captain Ben Hockley in the warm-up required a shuffling of the pack with John Harvey coming into the team at number 8 with Ali Bevan moving into the second row. Archie Kirby, Matt Searle and Aaron Lowe also took to the field on their YM debuts.
The early exchanges were evenly matched but Saffron Walden looked the more dangerous side with confident and snappy movement matched by good defence from YM. For most of the first 10 minutes, the YM were camped in their own half defending hard and desperately at times but keeping Saffron Walden at bay. Good work by Jake Goodwin saw a penalty awarded to YM in the Saffron Walden half which was kicked to the 10m touch. With the line-out secured the YM moved the ball into midfield but a decision to go for the line rather than use the numbers outside was a poor choice and Saffron Walden were able to turnover the resulting ruck and clear their lines.
But it was now YM’s turn to apply pressure neatly moving the ball across the pitch leading to a great quick exchange between George Hendry, Ed Parkin and Barny Horsfield this time using the overlap for Barny to score in the corner. Barny’s tricky conversion kick from the touchline was successful allowing YM to take a 7-0 lead after 24 minutes.
A silly penalty conceded by the YM from the restart allowed Saffron Walden to regain composure and build sustained momentum to take play deep into the YM 22. More penalties from YM led to an inevitable score by Saffron Walden on 26 minutes. The conversion kick was missed. Ipswich YM 7 v Saffron Walden 5.
YM’s debutant Matt Searle unfortunately suffered a hand injury and had to be substituted with Max Taylor coming on at full-back with Barny moving into the fly-half position.
It was as if Saffron Walden’s first score lit the blue touch paper and they ran in three quick successive tries in the next 15 minutes as YM were taken down to 14 men with a yellow card against Connor McLaughlan after numerous offside infringements from the YM pack. Saffron Walden’s third try was the best of the lot with a back-row move from a scrum seeing their flanker attack the blind side, disappointingly run through a number of YM attempted tackles to score under the posts for a maximum score.
The ominous storm clouds had now fully gathered over Rushmere and the half-time whistle was blown as heavy rain, wind and thunder and lightning gathered over the ground. Saffron Walden had secured an impressive half-time lead of 7-24.
The start of the second half was delayed by about 45 minutes due to the dangerous overhead electrical activity and the players took to the pitch after the delay with the sunshine starting to break through on a pitch that was in remarkably good condition after the deluge that had occurred.
Saffron Walden maintained the superiority in play in the first twenty minutes of the second half effectively securing their deserved victory. Playing with confidence and at a high speed coupled with a few missed YM tackles allowed them to further extend their lead with a well worked try in the corner. The tricky conversion was well kicked allowing Saffron Walden to extend the lead to 7-31 which was quickly extended further after scrum dominance and a neat chip over the advancing YM defence leading to a further converted try after 50 minutes. Ipswich YM 7 v Saffron Walden 38.
But YM’s pride runs deep and with Ben Hockley gamely taking up a position in the front row the YM scrum was stabilised again. Quick thinking by YM scrum-half Adam O’Leary kicking the ball down the blind side and despite being tackled without the ball on his chase was able to win the race to the ball and score the try in the corner. Barny’s conversion kick was successful. Ipswich YM 14 v Saffron Walden 38.
Saffron Walden were able to score two more tries in the final ten minutes to take their points tally beyond 50 as their superior overall fitness reflected in an impressive line speed showed through. Both tries were successfully converted.
Those two tries by Saffron Walden were bisected by a third try for the YM after some great kick and chase from YM wing Ed Parkin. An attacking YM scrum saw Ali Bevan peel off and surge over the try line with Barny kicking the conversion.
The final score on a tough afternoon for the YM - but in a game played in good spirit that was full of quality from both sides with the visitors just exhibiting more on the day - was Ipswich YM 21 v Saffron Walden 52.
WE ARE THE Y!
