Match Report

Colchester 27-16 Ipswich II  

18/06/05 (Courtesy of Colchester Romans)

Colchester Romans showed how far they had progressed in four weeks, gaining revenge for the narrow defeat by Ipswich in their first game of the season.  In sweltering conditions at Humber Doucy Lane Colchester started well and pinned Ipswich back in their own half in the opening minutes.  Aggressive defence saw loose forward Elliott Castle rip the ball from Ipswich, then spread it wide for 16 year old winger James Bond to score the opening try.

 

The game was being played at a fast pace, with both sides eager to score from every phase and forcing themselves into needless errors.  But it was Ipswich who were next to score after a fine run by the centre to score under the posts, the conversion taking them to a 6-4 lead.  This was the jolt the Romans needed and they came back at the Rhinos, with wing Dom Gooch searing though the Ipswich defence for a converted try.  This was followed two minutes later by a 60 meter break by Castle that set up a try for Pat Hunt, and Colchester were 14-6 ahead with 23 minutes gone.

 

Colchester were enjoying a period of dominance, but a mixture of sound defence and careless mistakes meant that they could not convert it into points and there were no further scores before half time.

 

The beginning of the second half saw Ipswich enjoy their best spell of the game, with the Romans unable to get out of their own half.  Colchester were forced into errors and could not break out and with 12 minutes of the half gone Ipswich inevitably scored to narrow the gap to four points.  The Romans responded immediately when the short kick off was gathered by centre Mark Braidwood, and after a couple of phases of play he touched down under the posts.  But Ipswich came back again and a powerful tackle breaking run saw them score again. 

 

With fifteen minutes to go the heat began to take its toll on the Rhinos, and Colchester's superior fitness saw them begin to take control.  A penalty in front of the posts was converted by Dail Tanner, then from the kick off the Romans drove upfield with a series of surging runs, prop Pete Robertson diving over from close range for the decisive score.  Colchester again ran straight back at Ipswich from the restart, a Tanner drop goal earning them another point, and the last few minutes were played out with the Romans looking for a sixth try.

 

It was a good performance from an ever improving Romans side, who are now looking good for a home draw in the play-offs.