....MATCH REPORT....
2nd June 2001
Ipswich Rhinos 24 South Norfolk Saints 24

RHINOS LATE CHARGE LEVELS INTENSE LOCAL DERBY
(report by Shaun Griffin)

The Ipswich Rhinos left their charge for the try line until the last ten minutes of an enthralling game to send both teams home with a point a piece. The wind ebbed and turned at the Rhinos home emulating the ever-changing score line, the game saw the two defences take turns to punish the others hard running. The windy conditions played a huge part in this traditionally hard fought derby game between The Rhinos and the Saints. It took 30 minutes of extreme defensive effort and some very hard forward running to break down the Saints defence. Mick Reeves at Stand off for the Rhinos had already made a huge impact on the game playing at number six for the first time in quote "many years" unquote. His touch down seemed to give the Rhinos belief that the Saints could be breached with smart football and some good old-fashioned blood and thunder. Pete Le-Marquand converted to give the Rhinos a six-point lead.

If the Rhinos were enthused by the try the Saints were given a rude awakening and returned the favour four minutes later from influential Stand-off Nick Greenall pulling the strings either side of the ruck area, and dummying through the line to post the first score for S.Norfolk but the wind denied the conversion attempt. The score at half time was 6-8 in favour of the saints after namesake Chris Greenall managed to fox the Rhinos defence again but still no conversion. Coach Mortimer gave his half time talk calmly giving his chargers clear points to work on mainly in the defensive areas around the ruck and some decision taking advice in the oppositions red zone.

First to score after the break was Rhinos man of the match number nine Paul Roberts who was skippering the side for the first time and managed two tries for his team also. Paul has shown himself a very able hooker over the past four weeks and is the find of the season so far. Ipswich then seemed to decide that it was time to make the coaching staff sweat some because the next three tries came from the Saints outfit who changed up a gear to post scores from veteran winger Burt Reynolds, loose forward Chris Kent, Chris Greenall's second of the game from the centres. The Saints kicker managed to convert two making the score 10-24 and quite a hill to climb for the Suffolk outfit. With a little over ten minutes remaining and the Rhinos superior stamina beginning to show in the tackle the seeds of self-belief began to show.

After good lead up work from Jules Gray and Kiwi Evan Player both getting through a ton of work with the ball in hand and Chik Knox-Macaulay making good metres Vaughan Evans found the white wash having switched to the centre position believing life was easier as a Rugby League Back. Still the Rhinos are suffering with consistency in the kicking department, two conversions from five the stats recorded at the end of the day. Jules Gray is another product of the Rugby Union merger this season and is vastly improving with each game. Some of his hit-ups with the ball defied his lack of Rugby League experience. Jules through his personal industry brought the scores to within six points when he characteristically took three tacklers with him over the line to touch down. With the Rhinos faithful looking painfully at their watches the last few minutes seemed to pass quickly with no sniff of possession.

A mistake from the Saints brought about by some tenacious Rhinos defence gave the Rhinos the last set of possession before the final whistle. Richard Pollard at Scrum half brought the forwards on in waves to get within striking distance and four metres from the line, hooker Paul Roberts barged over ten metres to left of the posts. The crowd went wild with excitement then with a cool collected swipe of the foot a clean contact and the ball tumbled over the crossbar. The final whistle went and Ipswich had defended their home record against the Saints.

Conference administrator Julian Harrison who duly picked a man of the match from both teams watched the game. Before announcing the two players Julian commented on his recent trail around the country to five conference fixtures and how the intensity and standard of the Rugby League Football he had just witnessed was by far the best he had seen. Congratulations to the Rhinos who seemed happier with the result than the Saints outfit. The return fixture is July 21st and those wanting to watch the best Rugby League in the East of England (it's official) had better make a note in their diaries.