Wisbech beaten in Counties 1 Eastern Counties League clash at Ipswich YM

Wisbech suffered another defeat on Saturday when they were beaten 32-21 by Ipswich YM at The Street.

A total of seven tries were scored in a frantic and highly-physical match with no quarter being asked or given.

An improved performance from the Men in Red was the only positive to take from a match which could easily have gone either way.

Ipswich got off to a roaring start when the ball kicked over the top bounced favourably for the host scoring a converted try in the first two minutes to take a 7-0 lead.

Wisbech responded positively putting the host under pressure and pinned deep in their half as they were forced to defend phase after phase.

The pressure was rewarded with a well-taken try from centre Jiko Kianoco and skipper Jack Malkin converted to level the scores after the opening few minutes.

The sides looked to have balanced each other out for the remainder of the half.

Ipswich won a penalty which they converted to take a 10-7 lead into the break.

But it was Ipswich who would be the first side to score in the second half with a well-worked try to stretch their lead to 17-7.

However, Wisbech who had control of the set pieces reasserted their dominance with a powerful scrum earning them a penalty try to close the gap to 17-14.

Ipswich under pressure from a reenergised Wisbech side replied with another converted penalty to take the score to 20-14.

The match then took an unfortunate turn for the visitors who suffered two quick successive injuries, first to full-back James Napier and then wing Luca Hardy and Ipswich extending their lead to 32-14.

But with 10 minutes remaining the Men in Red had no ideas of going quietly and were back in the contest after some patient attacking play.

With two minutes of play left, a long pass was claimed by Gerhard Wessels in his half, he slipped through the half gap to release Jiko who turned on the afterburners, beating two defenders to score his second try which was converted by Malkin.

The home side closed out the game for a 32-21 win, despite relentless pressure from Wisbech.

Wisbech will bid to end their run of defeats in Counties 1 Eastern Counties League when they face North Walsham in a rearranged fixture at home on Saturday (2.30pm).