Depleted But Not Defeated

The Cardinals chalked up another W on Sunday with an extremely hard fought victory over the Kent Exiles at Crockenhill, near Swanley in Kent. It has been several years since the Suffolk side conquered the Exiles on their turf, and particularly pleasing to manage it with several key personnel missing.
Following their comfortable win over the East Kent Mavericks, the Ipswich squad breezed into town, quietly confident of breaking the Crockenhill jinx.
They were forced to work hard throughout the game though as the Exiles proved difficult to break down.
With Quarterback Don Byrd out with a foot fracture, Ben Salisbury and the rest of the Ipswich offense sputtered from time to time but their resolute team mates on the defense rose up to decide the outcome of this meeting.
Cardinals safety Niall Simmons got the ball rolling in the first quarter, intercepting a wayward Zac Ritchie pass and returning it 45 yards for his first ever score for Ipswich. Having played previously at Aberystwyth University, Simmons is maturing with every game and has really come into his own
under the guidance of Defensive co-ordinator Mark Manning.
The powerful rushing attack of Paul Borstel and Don Candis for Ipswich began to make headway into Kents defense and a second scoring opportunity arose at the Exiles 24 yard line. Head Coach Ian Girling sent on
the kicking team and, out of elder brother Adrians hold, Steven Baines kicked a 31 yard field goal attempt through the uprights to extend the Suffolk sides lead to nine.
In the second quarter the hosts hit back. Ritchie had been pressured by a hungry pass rush all game but scrambled well, giving receiver Wesley Eversley time to shake free upfield and hang on to a 31 yard scoring pass. Jon Miller added the extra point kick to bring his team within two and right back into the match.
Into the third quarter and tension was building. There followed a lengthy delay however, when young lineman Kyle Clark ended a play in a heap, obviously in pain having broken an ankle. The ambulance crew worked their magic and as play restarted, so did Cardinals debutant Aaron Wynn! The young American serviceman, fresh into the country and still a teenager, grabbed onto a tipped pass and scampered 37 yards to the Kent endzone for a second defensive score!
Baines’ PAT bounced back off the left upright and the score moved to 15 – 7.
After that, both sides defenses were on top. The Exiles conceding yards to Borstel and Candis, but not enough to lead to further scoring, and the Cardinals forcing Kents offense all the way back to the 30 yard line after yielding all the way to their own 2! It was terrific stuff by the travellers and when the rushing attack ran out the clock just short of a third Ipswich touchdown, there was relief in the Suffolk camp, as well as pride for an under strength side performing in difficult circumstances.
Whilst patting themselves on the back after a hard fought victory, it was acknowledged the performance would have to improve considerably for this coming Sunday when local rivals the Colchester Gladiators come to Northgate.
Having gained promotion after last seasons successes, the Essex side are enjoying themselves in the second tier of British gridiron and would like nothing more than to bloody the nose of their Suffolk neighbours! It looks like being quite a contest on Sidegate Lane at 2:30.

Coach Girling