Crusaders Return To Winning Ways

Ipswich kicked off with a strong wind at their backs and a fumbled catch gave them an early scrum in Crusaders 22. Crusaders repelled a back row attack from the scrum and from a turn over Rob Dye drove through 2 wouldbe tacklers and fed the ball to the blind side, good support play and solid handling between both forwards and backs resulted in a try under the posts touched down by Robert Loone
If Ipswich who had beaten Crusaders earlier in the season were not shaken, then they were five minutes later when a slight of hand from Theo Elliot on his own 22 and a switch of play from Rob Kingsley opened up the Ipswich defence once more, good support play with the ball passing through five pairs of hands, resulted in James Garner touching down try no. two. Theo Elliot who had missed an earlier conversion made amends with an impressive kick from out wide into the wind. Crusaders spurned a kickable penalty and from a lineout in the Ipswich 22 the ball was spun wide, great anticipation from the Ipswich centre and a clean interception gave him a clear 80 metre chase. Despite being reeled in by the cover defence he was able to feed Elliot Clarke and bring Ipswich back in the game.
Ipswich were visibly lifted by their success and when Dean Alderton was sin binned. and fly-half Elliot forced to retire with a head injury they looked most likely to score. Excellent defence by Crusaders with a man short maintained their lead 12-5 at half time.

At the start of the second half and with the elements in their favour, Crusaders pressed hard in the visitors 22 for long periods but the dogged Ipswich defence held firm. In a highly competative match in which both teams produced last ditch defensive heroics it was Crusaders who broke the deadlock with their third try scored by Ryan Harris from the base of the scrum following relentless pressure from his forwards on the Ipswich line 17 - 5. Ipswich's reaction was positive and following tremendous pressure on the Crusaders line Ben Hockley drove over for a try. With five minutes remaining, the game was still in the balance and Crusaders were releived to see the game out for a much needed win.
The Man of the Match was Rob Kingsley who enjoyed his best game in a Crusaders 1st team shirt.