FOR the second time in as many weeks, Ipswich took the honours in the East Anglian derby game. After beating Chelmsford 3-2 in the Slazenger EHL Premier Division, Ipswich then repeated the feat indoors by winning 6-2 to claim the East Indoor Championship.

FOR the second time in as many weeks, Ipswich took the honours in the East Anglian derby game.

After beating Chelmsford 3-2 in the Slazenger EHL Premier Division, Ipswich then repeated the feat indoors by winning 6-2 to claim the East Indoor Championship.

With both sides missing their International players, it was a perfect chance for less experienced players to make their mark and Ipswich were very pleased to see the whole 12-player squad rise to the occasion.

Ipswich started the weekend with a 2-2 draw with fellow Premier Division side Old Loughtonians. They then beat St Albans 4-1 and finished Saturday with an impressive 11-0 victory over Maidstone.

Not only did the high-scoring game highlight the superb skills of drag-flicker Lucy Unwin, but it also ensured that Ipswich finished top of their group.

Another highlight was the return to action of stalwart Kirsten Spencer, who has been out of the game for nine weeks with a fractured and dislocated thumb.

Sunday saw Ipswich face EHL Indoor Division One side Sevenoaks in their semi-final. A superb display enabled Ipswich to brush the Kent team aside 10-0, with Leisa King showing her class with several outstanding goals.

The final, as predicted, saw Ipswich face local rivals Chelmsford and, after losing this final and the National Indoor semi-final to their Essex counterparts last year, Ipswich were determined to make amends this time round.

Ipswich started the brighter, putting the Chelmsford defence under pressure, and were rewarded when they took the lead in the sixth minute.

Inspired by their good start, Ipswich continued to dominate and soon opened up a 4-0 lead, probably the pick being a superb drag flick by King that Katy Roberts, in the Chelmsford goal, could only watch fly high into the net.

Chelmsford battled gamely and pulled two goals back but Ipswich were creating chance after chance and soon scored another two to finish 6-2 and give Ipswich the first title of the 2006-2007 hockey season.

Ipswich men lost in the semi-finals in the cruellest possible fashion at the East Region Indoor Hockey Championships held in Rickmansworth.

After drawing 5-5 with St Albans, thanks to two goals apiece from Joeri Roosblad and Will Hearne plus one from Ed Driver, Ipswich went out 7-6 on flicks.

Ipswich then drew 3-3 with Witham in the third and fourth place play-off courtesy of two strikes from Joeri Roosblad and one from Hearne to finish joint third.

Ipswich had earlier defeated Dereham 3-0 thanks to two goals from Joeri Roosblad and one from Will Fulker before hammering Harpenden 7-1, with Joeri Roosblad again on target twice, Phil Messant also netting a brace and Ravi Roosblad, Keir Dixon and Hearne one each.

They then lost 5-3 to Chelmsford, with Joeri Roosblad, Hearne and Messant on the scoresheet, but qualified as runners-up from their group to meet St Albans in the last four.