BAFA SFC Division II East Ipswich Cardinals 42 Maidstone Pumas 6 The Ipswich Cardinals got back to winning ways in their first home game with a resounding victory against a struggling Maidstone Pumas, writes Kyle Clark.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Cardinals receiver Brad Ling watches the ball into his hands for a score. Picture: RACHEL GOODEIpswich Cardinals receiver Brad Ling watches the ball into his hands for a score. Picture: RACHEL GOODE (Image: Archant)

On the second offensive play Matt Agate connected with wide receiver Brad Ling for a 26 yard touchdown, after Henri Clements had put the home side in excellent field position with a tough run. Ling added his own extra point to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead.

After going three and out Maidstone were forced to punt. Fab Ortiz-Barrs gathered the ball and sprinted down the sideline into the end zone, and with the point after tagged on it doubled Ipswich’s lead.

After mistakes in the red zone from both the Cardinals offence and defence the Pumas found a spark and added a score of their own. The quarterback connected deep with one of his receivers on a perfectly thrown ball to give the away side a possible route back into the game.

The glimmer of hope was quickly extinguished as Johnny Rodgers avoided would-be tacklers to jinx his way into the end zone to re-establish the Cardinals’ two score lead.

The defence kept a plucky Pumas offence at bay and a further score ensured the Cardinals went into the break with a healthy lead, Agate this time connecting with Ben Manning deep across the middle to make the half-time score 28-6.

Into the second half and Ipswich continued to assert themselves on the tiring away side as Rodgers added his second and third touchdowns of the day, his sixth and seventh this term respectively, to give the home side a 36-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Early in the final period a neck injury to a Maidstone player halted the game and after a mutual decision it was decided to suspend the match with the final score 42-6.

Ipswich extend their record to three wins and one defeat on the year, sit second in the division, and with Rodgers closing in on the 1,000 yard mark on the season, are in great position to make a push for the play-offs.

Next up for Ipswich is the reverse fixture as they travel to Maidstone on Sunday, June 24, kick off 2.30pm.