...MATCH REPORT...
IPSWICH RHINOS v OXFORD CAVALIERS
19 MAY 2001
IPSWICH 18 - 26 OXFORD

In a real tale of two halves Ipswich and Oxford played out an entertaining crossover game which saw the visitors come back from 18-0 down at half time to snatch a great victory. Both sides unexpectedly fielded weakened sides with the home side surprisingly without a replacement until half time. It was Dave Mortimer's Rhinos who were in complete control of the first forty minutes with a stout performance which stifled the Oxford attack with the half back duo of Paul Thurston and Richard Pollard and hooker Paul Roberts pulling the strings. Oxford were well into the game and made progress at will but determined tackling by Ipswich and use of the six tackles when in possession kept most of the play in the visitors half. The match was played in good sporting fashion throughout and the overcompetitiive edge which marred the previous encounter at the play off stage two years ago was non existent.

However, the free flowing affair was in danger of being stifled by a whistle happy Referee over keen to apply the rulebook rather than use commonsense and the advantage rule to allow two keen teams of amateurs to get on with the game. It was to the players credit on both sides that erroneous decisions went largely undisputed with both sides quickly accepting the decisions and taking "the rough with the smooth." Pete Le Marquand kickstarted Ipswich`s first half charge with an early penalty. Pollard opened the try scoring on 25 mins with a clever dummy to dart over under the posts after sustained Ipswich pressure. Pete Le Marquand kicked the extras to give Rhinos an 8-0 lead. Soon after Ipswich looked to have increased their lead when a passing move from 60 metres out led to a chip over the defence being regathered before a neat pass sent the Ipswich winger clean through for a try which was called back for a forward pass.

Ipswich lost their influential scrum half Thurston to an ankle injury but the remaining twelve men actually stepped up their game. Centre James Goodall stepped into the Scrum half role. Ipswich looked in total control on 37 mins when a good handling move resulted in Hooker Roberts repeating the earlier disallowed try by chipping over the advancing defence then releasing Pollard for his second try. Despite Ipswich`s dominance of the first half Oxford were content to soak up pressure with their influential scrum half Barry Randall probing the Ipswich defence for weaknesses which were to tell as the game went on. Ipswich second rower Julian Gray was having a towering game in defence and attack helping to build the platform for Roberts to force his way over under the posts on the stroke of half time. Pete Le Marquand added the conversion Prop Andy Wilson was in similar fine fettle but not being able to rest forwards was weakening Ipswich challenge. Oxford sportingly allowed the late arriving Ipswich player Ed Jones to be added to the list as replacement for the injured scrum half Thurston at half time.

The lack of replacements began to tell on Ipswich as Oxford rallied and Simon Yarrow rounded off a thirty metre move down the left flank to bring the visitors back into the game. Ipswich's first half strengths turned out to be their second half weakness as they failed to complete a single set of six tackles individual players opting to kick or force the football early in the tackle count. It was simply inexperience, but Oxford were street wise enough to understand that they were getting the ball returned to them regularly, and that patience would win the day. Good tactical play by Oxford put Ipswich on the back foot and first a Rhinos player forced into touch near his own goal line and then a forced drop out led to two quick Oxford scores from Russell Jewell and Gerry Rushworth. A drop goal attempt which went wide of the posts was gathered behind the tryline by full back Steve Lacey who set off on a length of the field sprint to the line to bring the scores to 18-16. Scrum half Randall went over from a few metres out soon after to give Oxford the lead for the very first time with Martin Fairhurst gleefully kicking the conversion to make the score 18-22.

Rushworth prominent for Oxford throughout the game with some hardgained yards gathered the ball when the restart was blasted straight into his midriff with a catch which would not have been out of place in the slips at Lords. He still had sufficient "wind" to sprint clear to the tryline to seal an excellent comeback win for Oxford . With an eight point cushion Oxford comfortably played out the remaining five minutes and Ipswich had to accept that the lack of replacements had allowed the visitors to run them ragged in the second half. Both sides had played their part in a memorable match.

Ipswich: Paul LeMarquand, Adam Butterworth, James Goodall, Pete Le Marquand, Lee Haylock, Richard Pollard, Paul Thurston, Jim Dixon, Paul Roberts, Andy Wilson, Julian Gray, Alex Mason, Steve Gleeson and Ed Jones.

Oxford: Steve Lacey, Aiden Taylor, Simon Yarrow, Ben Moor, Mark Mires, Martin Fairhurst, Barry Randall, Gerry Rushworth, Wayne Williams, Mark Bell, Jeremy Nikora, Graham Trueman, Rob Lowson, Russell Jewell and Andy Smailes.

Forthcoming Ipswich Fixtures:
Home to West London 26th May
Home to Norfolk 2nd June.