Premium Content THERE S nothing better than winning a derby . Just ask delighted Ipswich City midfielder Jay Kitching after the Bulls surprised Ripley Valley 3-1 in the historic Capital League 1 encounter between the regional sides. Bulls coach Norbert Duga rated the victory the best he had seen in many years at Sutton Park. One hundred per cent. That s one I didn t want to lose today, Duga said. It was the first time the Ipswich City Bulls and Ripley Valley clashed in the Football Brisbane Capital League 1 competition. New leader Kitching summed up the satisfaction after regular captain Joel Munn injured his hamstring following City s previous 8-1 loss to Pine Hills at the same ground.
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Subscriber only HAVING played in 10 or 12 local derbies for different clubs over many years, Adam O Sullivan knows why they provide so much football appeal. It s something different, O Sullivan said preparing for Friday night s latest clash between his current club Ripley Valley and a former team Ipswich City Bulls. It s all about enthusiasm and it s about you ve got to work harder. There s just something more about them. You try to give that extra 10 per cent. You never want to lose one. In recent seasons, the local derbies in Ipswich have lost some of their past importance with new players from outside the region coming into teams like Western Spirit.
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Subscriber only IT is extremely painful losing 8-1 in only your second game back from a break and with a hotly anticipated local derby looming. However, for calm and collected Ipswich City Bulls captain Joel Munn, it s important to keep everything in perspective. Having returned from knee surgery and being a new dad, Munn managed a smile reflecting on his team s latest Capital League 1 defeat to Pine Hills at Brassall. Going down by seven goals left Munn and his teammates with plenty to ponder, especially having to back up against rising threat Ripley Valley in Friday night s derby at the same Sutton Park venue.