...MATCH REPORT...
BEDFORD SWIFTS v IPSWICH RHINOS
9 JUNE 2001
BEDFORD 32- 39 IPSWICH

Ipswich went to the top of the Eastern Division with this win on Saturday. Ipswich`s aim is stay top to clinch the divsion title and home advantage in the play offs. However there was a heavy price to pay as Captain Paul Roberts faces a lengthy lay off due to a rib injury sustained early on. Darren Henry was also an early casulty receiving concussion from a head high tackle during a bruising first half which the referee struggled to control. On the plus side for Ipswich there was a pleasing debut for 17 year old Brendan Cooke from Colchester who adapted to league like a duck to water.

Mike Reeves also had a sensational game putting his experience gained at London, Salford and Warrington to good use and earning a reccommendation for the Rugby League conference representative side on June 23rd. Pete Le Marquand hit form with the boot scoring four goals. Reeves scored a hat trick of tries, a conversion and a drop goal to guide Ipswich through a tricky away tie. Bedford are a much improved side this season and created a host of problems for the visitors. Stand off Richard Pollard joined Roberts on the sidelines with a hand injury. Bedford took advantage of the disorganization in the Ipswich ranks when Dave Cox went over for an early try. A Pete Le Marquand Penalty quickly followed by an opportunist drop goal from Reeves kept Ipswich in contention. Reeves showed his poachers instinct to keep Ipswich ahead with a fine try.

Bedford were using the ball more intelligently and putting Ipswich under constant pressure winning a string of scrums including one against the head and busy stand off Stapleton dummied his way through to the line for a soft defensive try. Ipswich fought back and against the run of play Reeves made a break in his own half running in to score unopposed and give the Rhinos a slender 13-8 lead at half time. Bedford looked to have unearthed a new star when rookie winger Mark Whybrow cruised in for two splendid tries early in the second half. Both were the product of good support play and slick passing. Whybrow had never handled the oval ball in any code before the start of the season. Ipswich were having a bad day in terms of performance and defence and shadow of the side that raised their game in the Norfolk suffolk Derby the week before.

The two early two try salvo from the home side seemed to finally wake the Rhinos up and Gareth Edwards was on hand to finish off a move in the coner which had gone through all six tackles. Mike Reeves completed his hat trick before further tries followed for Paul Le Marquand and a first club try for Jim Dixon. Bedford were looking to get back into the match and were forcing the ball and Pete Le Marquand made an interception on his 20 metre line and outsprinted would be tacklers for the try of the match. Just when Iswich looked safe Bedford came right back into the game with tries from Stapleton and Gavin Twigden. With Marrick Murphy on target four times with Conversions Bedford came close to overhauling Ipswich`s points tally.

Ipswich hung on make three away wins out of three to confirm their place at the top of the league at the halfway stage of the season. Ipswich look to rediscover their form for Saturday`s visit of basement club Cambridge Eagles at Ipswich Rugby Club.

Ipswich team: Paul Le Marquand, Gareth Edwards, Pete Le Marquand Glyn Thomas, Adam Butterworth, Richard Pollard, Paul Roberts, Jim Dixon, Vaughan Evans, Evan Player, Mike Reeves, Julian Gray, Sean Griffin, Subs Daren Henry Richard Jones, Brendan Cooke and Alex Mason.