A brave fightback by Wymondham RFC in the final 20 minutes was not enough to make up for three first-half lapses that allowed Ipswich to cruise to a 19-3 half-time lead.

Ipswich 24, Wymondham 15

A brave fightback by Wymondham in the final 20 minutes was not enough to make up for three first-half lapses that allowed Ipswich to cruise to a

19-3 half-time lead.

Five minutes into the game the first error, a loose pass, was seized upon by Ipswich who surged forward and

winger Hopkins scored, with Broughton converting.

The next lapse in concentration came on the 20-minute mark. Ipswich were halted by an excellent tackle by Will Mitchell but the Ipswich support reacted quicker to continue the attack and flanker Gassant evaded several tackles to score.

Wymondham's final lapse followed a penalty which was taken quickly.

The visitors failed to react and Pentelow wriggled through and Hopkins converted to put the home side 19 points to the good.

This last score seemed to be the

wake-up call that was needed because the final 10 minutes of the half saw Wymondham putting the home side under severe pressure.

Strong Ipswich defence restricted them to one penalty, struck by Ross Crook, returning to first XV rugby

after a three-year absence following a shoulder surgery.

The second half couldn't have got off to a worse start for Wymondham, Tom Coller being shown a yellow card for a repeated team offence, but the visitors held firm.

With both teams losing their discipline in the heat the game became a stop-start affair before Ipswich stretched their lead to 24-3 with a second try from Hopkins.

In the final 20 minutes Wymondham really took the game into the Ipswich half. A series of four penalties on the home line was eventually rewarded with a penalty try, Crook converting.

Wymondham were straight back on to the offensive and scored again through a Mitchell try in the corner.

A quick penalty was taken up by Lee Summers and then quickly recycled by Ricky Holt to Rodney Arbon, who put Mitchell in.

Wymondham's second string travelled to West Norfolk and made it two wins from two in the Woodforde's Norfolk Merit Table's first division with a 20-5 victory at Gatehouse Lane.

West is always a difficult place to go and win, and results for each team against Wisbech indicated that this would be a tight match, with the visitors being slight favourites.

In the final analysis, the form book proved correct, with Wymondham winning three tries to one.

Wymondham's game plan was to negate West's strengths, which they achieved, and play a lively, open game by keeping the ball alive.

Two tries from Wellsie's man-of-the- match Jonny Coltman, and another by Sam Clover, were complemented with a conversion by Richard Dodds and a penalty by Mark Buckham.

For the second week in succession Mike Kerridge was outstanding in the forwards, leading by example and helping to destroy the West's rolling maul on several occasions.