Thetford go clear at top

Thetford RFC are four points clear at the top of Eastern Counties League Division Two with only three league games left to play.

HAVING travelled to Harwich and Dovercourt the previous week coming away with a hard fought win, this week Thetford hosted in-form mid-table Ipswich YM at Two Mile Bottom and won 25-3.

Ipswich YM won the toss and elected to kick off with the wind behind them and promptly established territory deep in Thetford's half.

But despite Thetford's defence not being in its normal dominating form Ipswich could not convert pressure into a try and had to settle for a early well-taken penalty kick.

Thetford then took more of a grip on the game and shortly returned with a Harper penalty.

Ipswich came at Thetford with a strong performance from their forwards but didn't look like ever troubling the Thetford line.

As the half progressed Thetford's possession and pressure resulted in three penalty attempts which all went begging, eventually the breakthrough came with an unconverted try in the corner for Reynolds, 8-3 at half-time.

With the wind in their backs Thetford opened the second half with more gusto and began to show signs of their ability.

Performances of note came from Paul Scott and Martin Sands making powerful midfield runs and Carl Webster up front, who came away with a customary power-drive try which was converted by replacement Crowley. He also slotted a penalty resulting from forward pressure, taking the score to 18-3.

Thetford were now in the driving seat but couldn't seem to totally dominate as they have previously in the season and Ipswich YM kept up a dogged showing but could not find a route to Thetford's try line and it was to be Thetford to score next with a back-row move.

Rix picked up from a scrum 10m from the line and popped the ball to replacement back-row Aaron Waters who used his pace and strength to reach for the line with Crowley converting. PortaRamp MoM: back- row forward Mutley Muller.