Mixed fortunes for Mistley Rugby Club

Their first team were in Eastern Counties League action at Hadleigh and lost 37-16.

Mistley were without two of their front row forwards and struggled to get to grips with the two Hadleigh centres.

The visitors were behind within a few minutes and soon losing 17-3.

Ed Barrie then scored to reduce the deficit to 17-11.

However, Mistley struggled in the second half and, despite some aggressive play from Kyle Fox, Harry Kerins and Rob Bloom, they could not contain the Hadleigh centres.

Despite a trademark try from Mark Dove, who smashed through to the line, the score ended 37-16.

Elsewhere, Mistley Marauders were at home to Ipswich's third team and triumphed 38-7.

Angus Bissett came into the side as hooker in his first game for the club.

The Marauders drew first blood when number eight Moby Turner broke from a scrum and touched down in the opening minutes.

Handling errors from both sides ensured that scrummaging was a big part of the afternoon.

This allowed the Marauders' front row of captain Gavin Richardson, Lewis Stratton and Bissett to perform superbly and Turner scored again near the corner after a snaking run through the Ipswich defence.

His try was superbly converted by Jack Tompkins.

Ipswich replied almost immediately after a quickly-taken penalty which saw them to within five metres of the Mistley line.

This allowed their big runners to crash over the line and score.

The last word of the half came from the Marauders who, after winning another scrum against the head, allowed Turner to break for his hat-trick try, leaving the half-time score at 17-7.

Lewis Symes then broke through the centre of the pitch and stormed away from within his own half to score under the posts.

This was repeated almost immediately after the restart, resulting in a brace for Symes.

The second half also saw the first appearance of new Mistley chairman Richard Percival into the front row and, together with veteran David Wood, Alex Weedon and Stratton, they continued to cause Ipswich problems.

The final score came from a superb kick chase by Jamie Dove, who touched down in the corner to make the final score 38-7.

Tomorrow, the first team will be hoping to win their first league game, after three defeats, when they entertain Felixstowe (kick-off 3pm).

The game is being sponsored by Moby's Ink Tattoos, of Manningtree.

There is no match for the Marauders.