U12s enjoy a great morning at Ipswich

Harwich had met Diss a few weeks earlier and been slow to get going and paid the price. So this time round they were keen to start with a bang and that they did with Captain Ioan Woodward running in the first try of the morning. Harwich were looking well organised and strong defence from George Smith, Samuel Parker and Robert Koczka amongst others meant Diss were unable to get any momentum.

Harrison Hunt added to the score for Harwich with a mazy but direct run that broke through the Diss defence and with Liam Atkins making yards for fun, Harwich were causing their opponents all sorts of trouble.

To their credit Diss stuck at it and were starting to put Harwich under pressure. They fought back to make the scores level and had a chance to go ahead, but some desperate last ditch tackling from Harwich stopped a third Diss try.

Matthew McCue, Tommy Moore, Samuel Bennett, Harry Pitham, Samuel Messenger and Daniel Logie were working hard with and without the ball and Harwich started to get some control back with Harry Woodley destructive in the ruck when defending and running well in attack.

Regan Constable and Joe Sewell had several forceful runs, but committed Diss tackling continued to keep the scores even. Then with what turned out to be the last play of the match Harrison Hunt cut through to score the winning try for Harwich.

Next up were hosts Ipswich who had just watched the Harwich performance with interest and knew they had to step up. From the start Ipswich showed their intent, getting the ball to their bigger players to run through the middle and then spreading the ball wide. A couple of quick tries and Harwich were on the back foot and needing to dig in.

The team has matured over the second half of the season and rather than let their heads go down they set about getting back in to the game and Tommy Moore put in his best performance of the year taking the ball and driving at Ipswich on a number of determined runs and came inches short of scoring. Harrison Hunt similarly carried on from the first game and was just short when reaching out to score.

Ioan Woodward tackled and ran himself to a stand still and Samuel Messenger, Harry Pitham, Samuel Parker, Daniel Logie, Samuel Bennett, George Smith and Robert Koczka all worked tirelessly. Matthew McCue continues to develop and showed good hands through both matches.

Ipswich were competing for everything and Harwich were found wanting on a couple of occasions in support, allowing the home side easy turnover ball, eventually resulting in a further score for them.

Still Harwich wouldn't give in and both Liam Atkins and Joe Sewell had good strong runs that had Ipswich struggling to contain them and Harry Woodley was popping up all over the pitch and never far from the action. Regan Constable almost got Harwich on the scoresheet a couple of times but again Ipswich were able to stop Harwich close to the line and hold out for a deserved win.

On another day it was a match Harwich might have won, but alongside the earlier victory these were two performances the players can be very proud of and with just a home game next week against Colchester to go, they have had a great year.