Harwich & Dovercourt 29 - Ipswich YM 10

Ipswich YM started strongly and showed their hand early on, playing tight rugby in the forwards, attacking the fringes of rucks and rolling mauls. The home side absorbed this early pressure and found themselves in the oppositions twenty two after a tough opening fifth teen minutes. YM soon gave away a penalty in front of the posts which Sam Male duly converted. 3-0

YM were the first team to cross the try line, again the visiting forwards were picking the ball from the base of the rucks and driving. Eventually YM worked their way over the try line from ten yards out for a converted try. 3-7.

Harwich instantly replied with a great move from the Harwich backs which saw the YM defence opened up. Joe Francis burst through the centres and run in under from 30 yards out, Sam Male converted from in front of the posts, 10-7.

The half stayed tight and the score remained at 10-7 going in at half time.

The second half saw Harwich step up a gear and it was apparent that the home side had become accustomed to the style of rugby being played by their opposition.

Simon Palmer and Jay Hatcher were constantly asking questions of the YM defence and when the ball was moved out to the backs the centre partnership of Sean Mills Jnr and Joe Francis were causing their opposition trouble.

YM did have their fair share of possession but struggled to convert it into points. The back three of Sam Male, Nick Faliveno and Adrian Dalby had excellent games, running any kicks back with great purpose and around the rucks the Harwich defence was robust.

Kyle Hutchins was next on the score sheet for H&D, the flyhalf worked his way through the YM defence from outside the twenty two, after out pacing several defenders Hutchins stepped the full back to cross the line. Male converted, 17-7

Harwich's third try come from yet another break though the centres, Francis breaking the game line and putting winger Adrian Dalby to finish off on the wing. 22-7.

With twenty minutes on the clock YM didn't give up the fight and worked their way into the Harwich twenty two, good pressure paid off when the visitors were awarded with a penalty in front of the posts which was converted. 22-10.

An injury to Hutchins with 15 minutes left forced Harwich to reshuffle the backs, substitute Keir Blacker come on at scrum half and Simon Keen was moved out into the back line.

Harwich played great expansive rugby at this stage and exhausted the deflated YM. Keir Blacker finished off a great afternoon for H&D and made sure the home side picked up a well deserved try scoring bonus point. Blacker picked the ball up from the base of a ruck, with the YM defence out of position the scrum half cruised in from 20 yards out. Sam Male converted making the final score 29-10.

H&Ds finely tuned but slightly ginger Jay Hatcher commented after the game - 'we smashed them to smashery'!!