Ipswich YM Earn Bragging Rights in Local Derby

Kicking off with that wind behind them, the Magpies were soon pressed back by the strong YM pack, who recycled the ball through several phases well, to give Tom Coulter the opening try after 10 minutes.
But the Magpies were not to be beaten this early and counter-attacked, their pack showing its ability in the loose too, and soon David Dowding, the pick of the Magpies’ players, scored the first of his hat-trick of tries.
Over the remainder of the first half, though, the YM pack gradually asserted its dominance, the Magpies scrum in particular being disrupted and driven back, it was only from the lines-out that they secured any useful possession. Their defence, though, held out well to neutralise the YM’s attacking moves.

A long period of YM pressure finally cracked the visitors’ dogged defence with a second try and soon after that Casselle Lee, outstanding at No 8 for the hosts, stole the ball from a Magpies’ scrum to set up the YM’s third try, Ash Lacey touching the ball down.
There was just time for Dowding to get his second try before half time, the sides turning around with the YM 22 – 14 to the good.

This position they soon improved on, although they were now playing with the wind behind them, they had to ensude a steady stream of injuries which left them with only 15 fit players by the final whistle.
More tries followed, with the YM pack in charge and their backs able to pick lines through the Magpies defence with ease. Finally, with victory and the bonus point well in the bag, the hosts relaxed too much, enabling the Magpies to score at the death, securing their own bonus point.