National Colts Cup Competition

Report by John Lawrence

Braintree Academy welcomed Ipswich Colts for this National Colts Cup round three fixture on a crisp, sunny autumn day with negligible wind. Braintree knew this would be the hardest fixture of the season so far and from the kick off attacked straight away. They won the first line out, attacked the blind side and Max Power ran in to score after 53 seconds. Josh Wadforth missed a difficult conversion attempt from out wide.

A forward pass gave Ipswich their first attacking scrum. Braintree defended well, Rhys Bolton making a good tackle and Braintree eventually cleared with a long kick into the Ipswich half. Ipswich came back forcing a good tackle from Joe Meade, Rhys made a good take and Jack Edwards drove on. Both sides were now playing open rugby, Braintree’s tackling holding up well. Ipswich won a line out on the Braintree 10m line and Keelan Joslin made a good tackle to stop the wing who broke through. Braintree lost their line out, the Ipswich hooker gathered and they moved the ball swiftly to the left wing, who was to prove a handful all day, who scored in the corner after 11 minutes. The conversion was too far out and was missed, 5-5.

Braintree kicked straight out but then took the ball against the head at the scrum. Max made a great run, breaking several tackles, and Braintree won a penalty after 15 minutes which unfortunately Josh was not able to convert. Both sides attacked and defended well. From an Ipswich line out win Keelan gathered the loose ball and fed Josh who kicked long into the Ipswich half, Rhys and Jack giving chase. Braintree pressure forced a scrum 10 metres from the Ipswich line, the ball went right from Josh to Max who went over for his second try for a 10-5 lead, again the conversion proving to be too far out.

Ipswich now exerted a period of pressure forcing Braintree to hold them up over the line several times. From an attacking scrum the No. 8 broke blind and just scored as he was tackled. The conversion was missed for 10-10. George Hume replaced Billy Carroll and Braintree resumed their attack. Max ran blind to open, Jack and Will Lawrence drove on, the ball came to Will Lawrence again who ran in to score. The conversion was missed for 15-10 after 29 minutes.

Ipswich attacked forcing more heroic defence from Braintree in which Will Turner and Jarryd Fouche were prominent. Right on half time the Ipswich scrum-half broke for a try under the posts, making the conversion a formality, 15-17.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, this time Ipswich being first to strike. The ball was well moved down the line to the dangerous Ipswich left wing who ran in to score, the successful conversion making it 15-24 after 90 seconds of the second half. The Ipswich pack started to gain ascendancy, a high tackle leading to a penalty which Ipswich missed. Braintree continued to defend gallantly, from a penalty in midfield Ipswich sent the ball down the line to, surprise surprise, the left wing who scored, the successful conversion making it 15-31 after 8 minutes of the second half and seemingly Ipswich’s game.

As it turned out that was Ipswich’s last score. Braintree replaced Will Turner with Billy Carroll Tom Burdge with Cameron Laudrum, Jarryd Fouche with Henry Irving and Rhys Bolton with Dan Smith. The Braintree lineout continued to function well allowing them to pressurise Ipswich although some mishandling and good aggressive defence by Ipswich meant this possession was not converted into scoring positions. Billy was in turn replaced by Ben Jones and both sides were now kicking for territory as the pace of the game started to tell.

Ipswich’s replacement No. 8 made a good break, they then replaced their entire front row to add to the pressure on Braintree’s valiant forwards. Braintree continued to compete well, Jarryd and Alex Eveleigh prominent. Henry was replaced by Rehan Nel and after 25 minutes Braintree were pressurising Ipswich in their 22. Braintree continued to win line out possession and from quick ball Cameron Kerr drove and passed to Josh who scored under the posts, to make his own conversion a formality! 31 minutes gone, 22-31.

Jack caught the Ipswich kick-off, Cameron Laudrum continued to win line-outs, but the Ipswich defence held up. The final minutes were mainly Braintree attacking and very good defence from Ipswich and that’s how the match ended. Full credit to both sides for a very entertaining and hard fought game, congratulations to Ipswich and Braintree can be proud of their efforts, ‘victis honor’.

Squad: Will Turner, Billy Carroll, Michael Lawrence, Jarryd Fouche, Will Lawrence, Tom Burdge, Jack Edwards, Cameron Kerr, Jamie Martin, Josh Wadforth (c), Max Power, Alex Eveleigh, Joe Meade, Rhys Bolton, Keelan Joslin, George Hume, Ben Jones, Rehan Nel, Henry Irving, Cameron Laudrum, Dan Smith.

Tea report by Will Lawrence: on a cold day Braintree served a very welcome chilli con carne. Incredibly there were sizeable portions, the spice level was perfect, the rice was ‘fluffy’ and overall this was a very flavoursome meal. In the words of Joe Meade it was “served with a smile”. One minor problem was the hair in my serving so a very commendable two and a half stars.