Ivel were able to start the New Year with a win over local rivals Sherborne to move second in the league. After losing to Sherborne earlier in the season in a tight game, which was won by one point, the away side were able to win by a single point in another tight game. Ivel started the stronger side and were moving the ball well attacking the Sherborne defence, but some good defending by the home side was preventing any scoring opportunities. Sherborne were able to turn over some ball and attack themselves, but after some good work in the forwards Ivel were preventing Sherborne from scoring. Ivel were now showing their power in the scrum pushing the home side off their own ball and after only a handful of scrums, Sherborne were forced into an early substitution when their prop could not continue. Ivel then gave away a penalty within kicking distance, with the penalty converted Sherborne took the lead. Ivel looking to score themselves were using their forwards to gain territory, after several penalties at the breakdown area the home side gave one away in front of their posts. Ivels Ash Pippard was able to bring the scores level and for the rest of the half neither side were able to break down the oppositions defence and both sides went in at the break tied.

HT 3 -3

The second half started and again there was nothing to separate the two sides, both teams had their chance to attack, but were being cancelled out by each others defence. With both teams looking to get the upper hand both sets of forwards were working hard, Ivel were able to use their driving maul to good use pushing the home side back, but again were not able to find that gap to cross the line. Decisions then started to go against the away side and Sherborne were able to hold Ivel in their half, Ivels defence was staying strong but then they conceded a penalty in front of the posts, successfully converted, Sherborne moved in front. Within minutes another penalty against Ivel meant Sherborne now held a six point lead. It was not long before Ivel got back in the game, after a clearance kick by Sherborne, Ivel centre Aaron Hunt was able to break just inside the half and outpace the Sherborne defence to cross the line and bring Ivel within one point, Ash Pippard was able to keep his nerve and kick the conversion to put his side in front. With only a few minutes to go Sherborne pushed Ivel back, but like all afternoon the Ivel defence dug deep and kept the home side out. Sherborne did have the chance to win the game with a couple of penalties but the Sherborne kicker was unable to keep his nerve.

FT   Sherborne 2XV 9    Ivel 10 

After the game Ivel coach Martin Cole said “We knew this would be a tough game and we would have to defend well, everyone put their bodies on the line and dug deep, I’m delighted what we worked on at training come to the forefront, and hopefully we can work on this now and have a strong second half to the season”. Ivel are next home to Warminster.