Division 2 NorthIESHC Mens 1st XI 1 Ipswich HC Mens 3rd XI 2A hard fought battle was in prospect all week and a hard fought, tenacious game was what the crowd got in this local grudge match at the Copleston Centre.

Division 2 North

IESHC Mens 1st XI 1 Ipswich HC Mens 3rd XI 2

A hard fought battle was in prospect all week and a hard fought, tenacious game was what the crowd got in this local grudge match at the Copleston Centre. IES fielded a good side, but lost a substitute to injury before the match which hampered their game. Nonetheless, the hosts battled hard and took the lead within ten minutes through Kevyn Brown, who followed up Scott Cole's rebound from a penalty corner to slam home past Ipswich keeper Glading. Ipswich tried their best to score in the first half, resorting to unsavoury tactics to win penalty corners and draw fouls but the defence, led by the Hill Piling Man of the Match Kevyn Brown, kept out all advances. IES were unlucky not to have more on the board but Ipswich held out to be one nil down at the break. Both teams came out strong in the second period and chances went begging. IES conceded their first after they lost concentration after pushing up too much and allowed IES old boy Sam Tyler to beat Lane and Brown to score. Five minutes later, another piece of poor defending allowed Ipswich to score and snatch the points from under IES' noses. IES can reflect well on their loss after playing the better hockey and take positives as they travel to league leaders Cambridge City 3rd XI on Saturday.