Match reports v Ipswich: Sunday 2nd March

Game 1: Ipswich U12s 26 – Newmarket U12s 7

A slightly depleted Newmarket side found themselves facing one of the tallest, strongest teams that they have come up against this season. Conceding two tries early in the game and a further two after twenty minutes, it looked as though Newmarket were looking at a very heavy defeat. There were glimpses of what might be possible with backs Joe Stafford and Gwilym Davies making significant breaks and the forwards working their socks off to gain possession but as they went in at half-time Newmarket must have feared the worst. However, the U12s have been the proverbial come-back kids this season and this match proved no different.

In the second half Newmarket not only kept Ipswich at bay but took the game to them. The forwards were magnificent. An injury to Liam John meant a re-shuffle with Stafford moving from the backs, but they continued to drive forward, giving scrum-half Lewis Heap ample opportunities to try and catch Ipswich out with blind-side breaks. While the forwards did the hard grind the backs snuffed out the Ipswich attacks. Jack Watson, in particular, led the way with a crunching tackle on his opposite number and was well-supported by Henry Smith, while Thomas Locke, at full-back, safely gathered anything kicked his way.

Finally Newmarket got their reward. Joseph Garrod, playing his first game, had come on as a replacement. Receiving the ball after yet another scrum-half dart, he showed great promise in jinking past several Ipswich players to touch down in the corner. Oliver Green converted the try.

The game was lost but Newmarket had demonstrated great character and the forwards - Ben Jeacock, Ethan Brown, Nathan Buckle, Chris Le, Daniel Bristow, Joe Stafford and Liam John – were named joint men of the match.

Game 2: Ipswich U12s 7 – Newmarket U12s 7

Newmarket carried forward their second-half performance into the shorter second game. Though they again found themselves 7 points down from an early try, the whole team ran themselves into the ground and again largely dominated the second-half, helped by some Ipswich indiscipline. This time the forwards all combined to drive over the line, with Stafford emerging from the bottom of the ruck to claim the try, again converted by Green.