Beccles 14, Ipswich 10BECCLES had their first ever victory over Ipswich when they defeated them at Beef Meadow on Saturday with their best performance of the season.

Beccles 14, Ipswich 10

BECCLES had their first ever victory over Ipswich when they defeated them at Beef Meadow on Saturday with their best performance of the season.

Beccles captain Ling was injured so Murray took over as skipper. With Lake also missing, Porter and Rix moved into the front row. Hall moved to the back row with Sale at scrum half.

Beccles had the worst possible start when Murray had a clearing kick charged down in the first minute and Ipswich scored a converted try. After this Beccles began to battle back.

Ipswich were struggling to win clean ball as the Beccles players were not giving their opposition time on the ball. After an altercation between the scrum halves, Sale was sent to the sin bin and his opposite number was shown a red card.

Beccles kept their opposition pinned in their own half and the pressure soon told with Wade kicking a penalty. This gave a half-time score of 7-3 to Ipswich.

Early in the second half Wade added another penalty to further cut the deficit. However, Ipswich were able to add a penalty of their own with Rix in the sin bin.

Beccles began to throw all they had at the Ipswich defence. Wilson stole an Ipswich lineout and carried the ball over halfway. The ball went out to the back and Rowney launched a well weighted up and under.

Musker McIntyre Man of the Match Williamson chased the kick and pulled off a miraculous catch and sprinted clear to score. Wade just missed the conversion, but Beccles were one point in front.

There were only four minutes left for Beccles to hold out. Ipswich came hard at Beccles and forced a penalty in front of the posts. However, the Ipswich kicker pushed the attempt just wide.

From the clearing Beccles kick the ball went loose and Rix hacked the ball deep in to the Ipswich half. With Ipswich scrambling in defence they conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Wade stood up and smashed the ball over to give Beccles a historic victory by 14-10.

Beccles are now up to third in the league just one point behind Ipswich in the promotion places.

Beccles will need to make it five wins in a row when they travel to Dagenham tomorrow to keep up their promotion hopes.