Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

JUNE 1st 2002
IPSWICH RHINOS 72 - CAMBRIDGE EAGLES 4

Ipswich finally found their feet in this years competition after four straight defeats. A fully attended training session was the platform for Ipswich's biggest win since last seasons 90 point whitewash of St Albans. Some well executed moves and clinical finishing saw the home side run in 15 tries to just one score from the Eagles. Ipswich were well marshalled by the half backs Pete Le Marquand and Paul Thurston who is building up to his swansong for the team in coming weeks. Thurston's good eye and handling led to several scores and he earned the man of the match award.

Good hands all along the line led to Ipswich opening score with front rower Harry Ackermann finding himself on the wing using his weight to squeeze in at the corner. Significantly, Ipswich's narrow defeat to St Albans last week looks good on current form lines in the light of St Albans win at pacesetters Luton. Cambridge were unable to field any replacements which meant they were always going to struggle, but as usual the Eagles were able to dig deep and tackled with great application. Darren Lyon came up trumps for Cambridge carrying three Ipswich tacklers over the line for a thirty second minute try. Ipswich were restricted to a 26-4 half time lead and only when the heat and pace of the game kicked in during the second half did Cambridge succumb.

At times Ipswich handling was very good but at times it was not very good and several try scoring opportunities were not taken due to over elaborate play. Confidence is not in short supply but the need to play basic Rugby will be paramount in the harder games to come. With the Coventry match this coming Saturday, Ipswich need to tighten up significantly and aim for a higher completion rate when in possession. Chikezie Knox Macaulay has taken well to the role of new Club Captain after three matches and his onfield leadership and two long range second half scores typified a surging team confidence going into this match. At the back Paul Le Marquand fielded eleven of the sixteen Cambridge restarts (including the kick off) while Winger Ryan Wood powered his way to a first half hat trick with centre Glynn "Taff" Thomas scoring his three in the second period.

Brendan Cook celebrated his England call up with two well taken tries (with the opening international just days away there is still no information coming out about training arrangements.) Hooker Paul Roberts kept the team on their toes with a busy display and he was able to burst over from the play the ball for a try of his own on 51 minutes. The back row combination of Andy Windridge, Cook and Dave Signor worked well and with replacements Steve Gleeson, Tom Ayott and Adrian Evans, rotating for the forwards all three should be in good order for the Coventry match.

Ipswich's one worry surrounds debut winger Rueben Boswell who sustained a leg injury and was replaced midway through the first half by Joel Barrett who had a confident first game for the club. Another youth Player hovering on the touch line was Adam Cook who having just turned seventeen and a regular at training was unlucky not to join his brother in the squad. The scoring was rounded off at the end when prop Adrian Evans burst clear from 30 metres out and looked to have the pace to make the line ahead of his persuers from Cambridge but he thought better of it and offloaded the ball to Pete Le Marquand who tucked the ball away out wide for his only try of the game.

The final scoreline did a world of good to Ipswich's points difference making them the only side in the lower half of the league with plus points. Last years grand finalists Coventry are the visitors to Humber Doucy Lane this coming Saturday in an attractive looking clash (June 8th 2.30pm kick off). Ipswich now have the chance to make the result a turning point in fortunes for the season, but only if the committment to training on a Wednesday night continues.

IPSWICH TEAM: Paul Le Marquand, Ryan Wood, Chikezie Knox Macaulay, Glynn Thomas, Rueben Boswell, Pete Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Harry Ackermann, Paul Roberts, Lee Haylock, Andy Windridge, Brendan Cook, Dave Signor, Steve Gleeson, Joel Barrett, Tom Aylott, Adrian Evans.

CAMBRIDGE TEAM: Dave Morgan, Graeme Smith,Richard Bryars, Lyndon Jones, Darren Lyons, Andy Low, Paul Bergin, Mick Regan, Tom Arnold, Adi Adams, Dale Burnley, Dean Brimsworth A.N.Other.

SCORERS:
Tries: Wood 3, Thomas 3, Ackermann 2, Cook 2, Knox Macaulay 2, Roberts 1, Windridge 1, Pete Le Marquand 1.

Goals: Pete Le Marquand 6

Cambridge Try: Lyons.


	...MATCH REPORT... RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE JUNE 1st 2002 IPSWICH RHINOS 72 - CAMBRIDGE EAGLES 4 Ipswich finally found their feet in this years competition after four straight defeats. A fully attended training session was the platform for Ipswich's biggest win since last seasons 90 point whitewash of St Albans. Some well executed moves and clinical finishing saw the home side run in 15 tries to just one score from the Eagles. Ipswich were well marshalled by the half backs Pete Le Marquand and Paul Thurston who is building up to his swansong for the team in coming weeks. Thurston's good eye and handling led to several scores and he earned the man of the match award. Good hands all along the line led to Ipswich opening score with front rower Harry Ackermann finding himself on the wing using his weight to squeeze in at the corner. Significantly, Ipswich's narrow defeat to St Albans last week looks good on current form lines in the light of St Albans win at pacesetters Luton. Cambridge were unable to field any replacements which meant they were always going to struggle, but as usual the Eagles were able to dig deep and tackled with great application. Darren Lyon came up trumps for Cambridge carrying three Ipswich tacklers over the line for a thirty second minute try. Ipswich were restricted to a 26-4 half time lead and only when the heat and pace of the game kicked in during the second half did Cambridge succumb. At times Ipswich handling was very good but at times it was not very good and several try scoring opportunities were not taken due to over elaborate play. Confidence is not in short supply but the need to play basic Rugby will be paramount in the harder games to come. With the Coventry match this coming Saturday, Ipswich need to tighten up significantly and aim for a higher completion rate when in possession. Chikezie Knox Macaulay has taken well to the role of new Club Captain after three matches and his onfield leadership and two long range second half scores typified a surging team confidence going into this match. At the back Paul Le Marquand fielded eleven of the sixteen Cambridge restarts (including the kick off) while Winger Ryan Wood powered his way to a first half hat trick with centre Glynn "Taff" Thomas scoring his three in the second period. Brendan Cook celebrated his England call up with two well taken tries (with the opening international just days away there is still no information coming out about training arrangements.) Hooker Paul Roberts kept the team on their toes with a busy display and he was able to burst over from the play the ball for a try of his own on 51 minutes. The back row combination of Andy Windridge, Cook and Dave Signor worked well and with replacements Steve Gleeson, Tom Ayott and Adrian Evans, rotating for the forwards all three should be in good order for the Coventry match. Ipswich's one worry surrounds debut winger Rueben Boswell who sustained a leg injury and was replaced midway through the first half by Joel Barrett who had a confident first game for the club. Another youth Player hovering on the touch line was Adam Cook who having just turned seventeen and a regular at training was unlucky not to join his brother in the squad. The scoring was rounded off at the end when prop Adrian Evans burst clear from 30 metres out and looked to have the pace to make the line ahead of his persuers from Cambridge but he thought better of it and offloaded the ball to Pete Le Marquand who tucked the ball away out wide for his only try of the game. The final scoreline did a world of good to Ipswich's points difference making them the only side in the lower half of the league with plus points. Last years grand finalists Coventry are the visitors to Humber Doucy Lane this coming Saturday in an attractive looking clash (June 8th 2.30pm kick off). Ipswich now have the chance to make the result a turning point in fortunes for the season, but only if the committment to training on a Wednesday night continues. IPSWICH TEAM: Paul Le Marquand, Ryan Wood, Chikezie Knox Macaulay, Glynn Thomas, Rueben Boswell, Pete Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Harry Ackermann, Paul Roberts, Lee Haylock, Andy Windridge, Brendan Cook, Dave Signor, Steve Gleeson, Joel Barrett, Tom Aylott, Adrian Evans. CAMBRIDGE TEAM: Dave Morgan, Graeme Smith,Richard Bryars, Lyndon Jones, Darren Lyons, Andy Low, Paul Bergin, Mick Regan, Tom Arnold, Adi Adams, Dale Burnley, Dean Brimsworth A.N.Other. SCORERS: Tries: Wood 3, Thomas 3, Ackermann 2, Cook 2, Knox Macaulay 2, Roberts 1, Windridge 1, Pete Le Marquand 1. Goals: Pete Le Marquand 6 Cambridge Try: Lyons.