Badgers run riot as Felixstowe storm to 46–7 victory over Ipswich YM Hawks

Felixstowe 46–7 Ipswich YM Hawks | Saturday 17th October 2026
Eastern Counties Division One South | Infinity Ground, Felixstowe

Felixstowe Rugby Club continued their impressive start to the season with a dominant 46–7 bonus-point victory over Ipswich YM Hawks at the Infinity Ground on Saturday afternoon, running in eight tries in a game that was brought to an early conclusion after just 60 minutes.

With eight changes from the previous week's victory over Ipswich II and Ben Gemmell stepping into the coaching role, the Badgers demonstrated the growing strength and depth within the squad with an outstanding attacking performance.

Badgers Come Flying Out of the Blocks

Felixstowe wasted no time asserting their authority, producing a blistering opening 15 minutes.

Miles Stack and Nat Adams crossed for early tries, with a successful conversion helping the home side race into a 12–0 lead.

The Badgers' forwards were providing an excellent platform, with a dominant scrum and a powerful front row giving the backs plenty of opportunities to attack.

Jack Rowbotham was next to get in on the action, finishing well in the corner to stretch Felixstowe's advantage to 17–0.

But the best was still to come.

Keanan Produces a Try of the Season Contender

With Felixstowe already in control, Keanan Mouton produced a moment of individual brilliance that had everyone talking.

Spotting space behind the Ipswich defensive line, Keanan chipped the ball over the top before setting off in pursuit.

Showing tremendous pace and determination, he chased down his own kick, powered through the final defender and grounded the ball between the posts.

It was an extraordinary piece of individual skill, combining vision, pace, strength and an outstanding finish.

Watching on, Manuel Fuillerat was quick to describe it as a contender for "try of the year", and few could argue!

The conversion was added, taking Felixstowe into a commanding 24–0 lead.

Four tries inside the opening 26 minutes meant the attacking bonus point was already secured, but the Badgers weren't finished.

Isaac and Jono Combine for Try Number Five

The fifth try came from an unlikely attacking opportunity deep inside Felixstowe's own half.

An Ipswich YM penalty kick from near the Felixstowe posts failed to find the distance, allowing Isaac Barrow to gather possession.

With space opening up in front of him, Isaac accelerated towards the corner before showing excellent awareness to kick ahead for Jonathan "Jono" Balshaw, who raced onto the ball to finish another superb counter-attacking move.

The conversion drifted wide, but Felixstowe had raced into a remarkable 29–0 lead inside the opening half-hour.

Ipswich YM managed to respond with a converted try following a moment of defensive miscommunication, reducing the deficit to 29–7.

However, it would prove to be their only score of the afternoon.

No Let-Up from the Badgers

Felixstowe continued where they had left off after the interval, with their defensive pressure proving just as effective as their attacking play.

A determined defensive effort forced Ipswich into a mistake, with the ball turned over and Caleb Woodard quickest to react.

Caleb gathered the loose ball and crossed for Felixstowe's sixth try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed, but the Badgers had extended their lead to 34–7.

The match also provided two particularly pleasing moments for the Felixstowe squad.

Alex Barnard made his first-team debut, another exciting step for a player progressing through the club, while Oliver Carr made his welcome return to first-team action.

With fresh legs on the pitch, Felixstowe continued to dominate.

Barrow Gets His Reward

Having already played a major part in setting up Jono Balshaw's earlier try, Isaac Barrow deservedly got himself on the scoresheet.

The young winger finished well in the corner to extend Felixstowe's lead to 39–7, rounding off an excellent individual contribution that had already demonstrated his pace, attacking instincts and ability to create opportunities for teammates.

The conversion was missed, but the Badgers were showing no signs of slowing down.

Tom Gallacher Puts the Icing on the Cake

Felixstowe's eighth and final try came courtesy of Tom Gallacher, who finished off a lovely set-piece move.

It was another excellent example of the Badgers combining strong forward possession with well-organised attacking rugby.

The conversion was successful, taking the score to 46–7.

With Felixstowe firmly in control, the match was brought to an early conclusion after approximately 60 minutes, with Ipswich YM unable to continue.

Man of the Match – Keanan Mouton

Keanan Mouton deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award following an outstanding performance in the number eight shirt.

His spectacular individual try was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the afternoon. A perfectly weighted chip over the defensive line, followed by a determined chase, a powerful collision with the final defender and a finish beneath the posts, had everyone talking.

But Keanan's contribution went far beyond his try. His physicality, powerful carrying and work around the breakdown helped the Badgers dominate proceedings.

A superb all-round performance and a thoroughly deserved Man of the Match award.

A Statement Performance

Eight tries, eight different try scorers and a bonus-point victory made it another hugely positive afternoon for Felixstowe Rugby Club.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect was the manner of the performance.

Despite making eight changes from the previous week's side, the Badgers looked organised, confident and dangerous throughout.

The front row laid an excellent foundation, the scrum was dominant, and the backs made the most of the opportunities created.

Keanan Mouton's spectacular chip-and-chase try will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the season, while Isaac Barrow's contribution to two tries was another standout feature.

There was also plenty to celebrate with Alex Barnard's first-team debut and the welcome return of Oliver Carr, demonstrating the opportunities and competition developing within the squad.

Credit must also go to Ben Gemmell, who stepped into the coaching role and oversaw an excellent team performance.

The result keeps Felixstowe firmly in the promotion conversation in Eastern Counties Division One South, with the Badgers sitting third in the table on 16 points from four matches, recording three wins and one defeat.

Next Up – Woodbridge 2nd XV

The Badgers return to the Infinity Ground next Saturday for another important league fixture, this time against local rivals Woodbridge.

Saturday 24th October 2026
Felixstowe RFC v Woodbridge 2nd XV
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Infinity Ground, Felixstowe

With confidence high and momentum building, Felixstowe will be looking to continue their impressive run of form.

Come down, support the lads and get behind the Badgers!

Up the Badgers! ??

Felixstowe Try Scorers

Miles Stack × 1

Nat Adams × 1

Jack Rowbotham × 1

Keanan Mouton × 1

Jonathan Balshaw × 1

Caleb Woodard × 1

Isaac Barrow × 1

Tom Gallacher × 1

Conversions: 3 successful
Man of the Match: Keanan Mouton
First-team debut: Alex Barnard
Return to first-team action: Oliver Carr
Coach: Ben Gemmell

Final score: Felixstowe 46–7 Ipswich YM Hawks
Match ended after approximately 60 minutes.

Saxons Fall Just Short in 87-Point Thriller Against Bury St Edmunds

*Bury St Edmunds IV 47–40 Felixstowe Saxons*
Saturday 17th October 2026

Felixstowe Saxons produced a tremendous display of attacking rugby, determination and team spirit in an extraordinary encounter away to Bury St Edmunds IV, eventually falling to a narrow 47–40 defeat in a match that saw an incredible 87 points scored.

With the scores level on several occasions, including at half-time and again deep into the second half, the Saxons pushed their hosts all the way in a contest that could easily have gone either way.

The afternoon also saw five players make their first appearances of the season, demonstrating the growing strength and depth of the Saxons squad.

Bury Strike First, But Saxons Respond

The home side made the brighter start, crossing for an early unconverted try to take a 5–0 lead.

However, the Saxons responded through Hadyn Casey, who crossed for Felixstowe's opening try to bring the scores level at 5–5.

Bury regained the advantage with a converted try beneath the posts to make it 12–5, but the Saxons refused to let the home side pull away.

The two teams continued to trade scores, with Adam Grimwood getting himself on the scoresheet as Felixstowe battled back into contention.

The Saxons continued to apply pressure and eventually brought the scores level at 19–19, with Andrew "Ozzy" Osborne contributing valuable points from the kicking tee.

Turner Puts the Saxons Ahead

Felixstowe continued to press forward, and Sam Turner, making his first appearance of the season, was next to make his mark.

Turner powered over beneath the posts, allowing Ozzy to add another conversion and put the Saxons ahead 26–19.

But Bury were proving equally dangerous in attack and responded with another converted try to level the contest once again.

At half-time, the scoreboard read 26–26, reflecting just how evenly matched the two sides had been throughout a breathless opening 40 minutes.

Second-Half Drama

The second half continued in much the same fashion, with both sides refusing to give an inch.

In a great example of the spirit of grassroots rugby, Bury kindly provided a substitute to help Felixstowe, with the player even getting himself on the scoresheet as the Saxons regained the lead at 33–26.

However, the home side responded once again, bringing the scores level at 33–33.

With the game entering its final stages, Matt Watkins produced another important moment for Felixstowe, crossing for a crucial try.

Ozzy Osborne added the conversion to restore the Saxons' advantage at 40–33.

With around 15 minutes remaining, Felixstowe were within touching distance of a memorable away victory.

Heartbreak in the Closing Minutes

But there was still plenty of drama to come.

Bury dug deep and found another converted try to bring the scores level at 40–40, setting up a thrilling finish.

With both sides pushing for the winning score, the home team eventually found the breakthrough, crossing for another converted try to take a 47–40 lead with just four minutes remaining.

The Saxons threw everything into the closing stages, but despite their tremendous effort, there was no way back.

The final whistle brought an end to an extraordinary contest.

Bury St Edmunds IV 47–40 Felixstowe Saxons.

*Watkins Rolls Back the Years*

One of the standout performances of the afternoon came from 44-year-old Matt Watkins, who rolled back the years with a powerful display in the front row.

Normally more accustomed to the hooker position, Watkins demonstrated his strength and versatility by stepping into the tight-head prop role and delivering a tremendous performance.

His physicality, powerful carrying and willingness to take the game to Bury were a real asset to the Saxons throughout the afternoon.

Watkins capped off his performance with a crucial second-half try, proving that age is just a number when it comes to pulling on the Felixstowe shirt.

A superb example of experience, strength and versatility from one of the Saxons' senior players.

Five Season Debuts Strengthen the Squad

Another major positive from the afternoon was the return of five players making their first appearances of the season.

Johnny Lowdell, Kevin Jacobs, Sam Turner, Luke Coster-Reeve and Callum Coulson all pulled on the Saxons shirt for the first time this campaign.

Their involvement provided a welcome boost to the squad and highlighted the growing number of players available to represent Felixstowe Rugby Club.

With Sam Turner also getting himself on the scoresheet, it was a particularly pleasing return to action.

Having a mixture of experienced players, returning faces and developing talent is vital to the continued growth of the Saxons, and the commitment shown by everyone involved was fantastic to see.

*Man of the Match – Adam Grimwood*

Adam Grimwood deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award following an excellent performance in the number eight shirt.

Grimwood led by example throughout the afternoon, bringing physicality, determination and plenty of energy to the Saxons' forward play.

His contribution was rewarded with a well-taken try, while his efforts around the pitch helped Felixstowe remain competitive in a fiercely contested encounter.

In a game where the momentum swung repeatedly between the two sides, Grimwood's commitment and work rate stood out.

A tremendous performance and a thoroughly deserved Man of the Match award.

Plenty of Positives for the Saxons

Despite the disappointment of defeat, there was an enormous amount for Felixstowe to take from this performance.

Scoring 40 points away from home is no small achievement, and the Saxons demonstrated tremendous character to repeatedly fight their way back into the contest.

Andrew "Ozzy" Osborne deserves particular praise for his contribution from the kicking tee, successfully landing five conversions during the afternoon.

There were also important contributions from Hadyn Casey, Adam Grimwood, Sam Turner, Matt Watkins and Henry, all playing their part in an entertaining contest.

The combination of five season debutants, experienced campaigners like Watkins and a Man of the Match performance from Grimwood demonstrated the strength of character within this Saxons side.

The afternoon also highlighted the fantastic spirit of grassroots rugby, with Bury helping to provide a substitute to ensure the game remained competitive.

Ultimately, the result came down to the final few minutes, and while the Saxons will be disappointed not to come away with the victory, they can take enormous pride in their performance.

It was a proper rugby battle, full of tries, determination and entertainment from start to finish.

A seven-point defeat, 40 points scored and a tremendous effort from everyone in a Saxons shirt.

The lads may not have brought home the win, but they certainly gave everything for the badge.

Next Up – Thurston 2nd XV

The Saxons are back on the road next Saturday, looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat.

Thurston 2nd XV v Felixstowe Saxons
Saturday 24th October 2026
Venue: Thurston (Away)

After producing 40 points against Bury, the Saxons will be looking to build on their attacking performance and turn another competitive display into a victory.

Get behind the lads as they continue their season!

Up the Saxons! ??

Felixstowe Saxons Scorers

Reported tries:

Hadyn Casey

Adam Grimwood

Sam Turner

Matt Watkins

Henry

Bury-provided substitute (identity to confirm)

Conversions: Andrew "Ozzy" Osborne × 5

Man of the Match: Adam Grimwood