Match Report: Ipswich 40 – 56 Southwold

Southwold secured a memorable away victory at Ipswich on Saturday, completing the league double over their local rivals and recording their first win on this ground for many years in a thrilling, high-scoring encounter.

After withstanding early periods of Ipswich pressure, Wold struck first in spectacular fashion. Tom Keeble broke brilliantly from inside his own 22, linking with Charles Buckley before Jonny Utting finished the move near the posts to make it 7–0.

Ipswich responded through a well-worked maul before their fly-half ghosted through to level the scores at 7–7. Southwold quickly regained control, however, with a sharp backs move from a lineout close to the Ipswich line, allowing Keeble to cross under the posts for 14–7.

The restart produced one of the moments of the match, as Buckley collected the ball and beat multiple defenders in a stunning solo run to score and extend the lead to 21–7.

Ipswich continued to battle and reduced the deficit with another well-taken try from a lineout, before Luke Wade added a penalty to make it 24–14. The home side again responded from a 22 restart, finishing in the corner to bring the score back to 24–21.

Wade added a second penalty following scrum pressure to edge Wold ahead at 27–21, before another sweeping move saw Buckley again involved, feeding Wade who broke clear and sent Josh Block over in the corner to give Southwold a 34–21 half-time lead.

Southwold carried their momentum into the second half. Forward dominance created space out wide, and Keeble finished confidently in the corner for his second try of the afternoon, extending the lead to 41–21.

Ipswich responded with a driving maul score, but Wade’s long-range penalty kept Wold in control at 44–28. Sustained pressure near the Ipswich line then saw Captain Sherard Block cross in the corner to push the lead further.

The highlight of the closing stages came from a series of phases that ended with a cross-field kick from Wade, brilliantly finished by Guy Blades with an acrobatic score in the corner, taking Southwold to 56–28.

Ipswich showed real character to the end, adding two late tries through a lineout maul and a break through the middle to bring the final score to 56–40.

This was an outstanding attacking performance from Southwold, combining clinical finishing with resilience under pressure. To secure a win away at Ipswich and complete the double makes this a particularly special result for the squad and supporters alike.

Arn the Wold!