Result: Newmarket 27 - 5 Ipswich

Despite being a man short, Newmarket had their best game of the season to comprehensively outplay a strong Ipswich side in every phase of the game. They consistently stole the ball at both scrums and lineouts, were always first to the breakdown, added great support play to strong individual runs, and tackled like demons. As a result Ipswich found it impossible to get on the front foot.


From the kick off Dan Bristow started and finished the move for the first try with storming runs that were supported by Aiden Cooper and Chris Le. The lead quickly doubled as Newmarket stole the ball at an Ipswich lineout and Dan Downing proved unstoppable from 15 metres.

Ipswich then took advantage of playing down the slope with some sensible kicking that forced Newmarket to give away a penalty inside their 22 metre line. Though not scoring immediately it gave Ipswich their only period of sustained pressure and a quick tap from a free kick allowed their backs to pull back a try just before half-time.




Straight from the re-start Newmarket restored their lead. Bristow recovered the ball from the kick off and Cooper charged to the line for a try converted by Oliver Green.

Even with a winger missing, the Newmarket backs proved absolutely solid in defence and quick to counter-attack. Joe Stafford forced Ipswich to retreat with tactical kicking and Toby Colletta at full-back was consistently reliable. However, the star of the show was Tom Locke whose hands appeared to be covered in glue as he repeatedly gathered the awkward ball and ran it back well over the gain line. It was one of his forays that brought Newmarket deep into Ipswich territory. Man of the match Cooper then terrorised the Ipswich ball carriers with a fantastic series of tackles that eventually led to a Newmarket scrum. Ignoring the coaches' cries to get the ball out to the backs, scrum-half Lewis Heap jinked through the defence to claim his first try of the season.



There was just time for the match to end as it began with Dan Bristow gathering the ball near the Ipswich 22 and running virtually untouched to the corner for his second try.