Thetford returned to league action and stayed top of the league with a 67-3 home success over Ipswich YM.

Thetford & Brandon Times: Thetford's Gary Lawrence.Thetford's Gary Lawrence. (Image: Archant)

Nigel Brown asked for a response to the loss in the Junior Vase – and his players responded with both teams achieving impressive wins – the Heathens won 45-10 at league leaders Norwich Medics II.

Ipswich came prepared with a big pack and clearly planned to use them to bully the normally undersized Thetford pack up front. Thetford were ready for the challenge with their line speed and ferocity in the tackle shutting down any big runners before they got a head of steam.

Ipswich put the first points on the board with an easy kick, but this woke the Thetford men up and with one of the best defensive performances of the season they kept their score to three for the full 80 minutes.

The impressive Zak Pizzey brushed aside two defenders to score – Briggs stepped up and converted – he converted seven of the 10 tries on the day as well as a penalty.

Thetford & Brandon Times: Action from Thetford's big win over Ipswich YM.Action from Thetford's big win over Ipswich YM. (Image: Archant)

Briggs had a hand in the next try when the returning Rob Duchesne dummied through the line and passed to Matt Briggs for him to just fall short and captain Chris Thomas picked from the back of the ruck and dived over.

The next try was a masterpiece of deception which started from a simple overthrow from an Ipswich YM line-out. The ball was gathered by Rob Hirsch and quickly recycled and fed out to Duchesne who used his dummy runners to ghost through the line and changed his angle to eventually score a try that started in Thetford’s own 22. Briggs added a penalty to end the half.

Briggs then fell just short of the line, but he was able to pop the ball to Ryan Gardiner who carried two defenders over the line.

Rob Duchesne finished off his hat-trick and the wingers Josh Clark and Mitch Steven added to the try tally after slick hands allowed them both to get over in opposite corners.

Briggs then dived over

The last try was a classic team try. Gardiner was stopped just short so the ball was whipped out to Duchesne who had players running lines at every angle for him. He picked out Gary Lawrence and his hard line took him past the defensive line and to the line.

Man of the match was Adam Harper.