Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

JUNE 8th 2002
IPSWICH RHINOS 22 - 14 COVENTRY BEARS

Battling Ipswich Rhinos pulled off the biggest shock of the season to overcome national table toppers Coventry Bears in a pulsating Rugby League Cross Conference encounter. Few outside observers gave Ipswich a chance against a side unbeaten this year with five straight wins. But Ipswich, led by Chick Knox Macaulay and Player Coach Paul Roberts, had worked hard in training leading up to this match and the players were quietly confident of proving recent improved form was no flash in the pan.

Castleford Referee Paul Gluck's excellent handling enabled the two side to fully express themselves in a free flowing game in which the outcome was in doubt until Paul Le Marquands match winning last minute try and conversion sealed victory for the jubilant Rhinos. Ipswich's Player Coach Paul Roberts did his Welsh selection chances no harm with the opening try when he burrowed his way over from close range straight from the play the ball on ten minutes. Dave Signor added another try to extend the lead ten minutes from half time, before Coventry's Rob Lowe reduced the arrears with a try converted by Scott Carver.

A feature of the first half was some relentless and bruising defence by both sides in a tense encounter. Tom Shaw exposed an overlap on the Ipswich left flank to bring the teams level on 50 minutes. England rugby union U19 international Tavela Kwilimbi made a good impression on his home debut after two tries at Saint Albans in May with a solid performance and he confidently ran several balls out of defence. For Coventry their South African stand off Alex Van Der Walt kept the Ipswich defence on their toes with some astute kicking. But ten minutes from time with the scores still level a touch of class from Scrum Half Paul Thurston tipped the scales towards the Rhinos. Thurston Picked up the ball on the half way line and looked when covered, but he threw two outrageuos dummies to sidestep his way through the Coventry defence before sprinting clear with time to celebrate before touching down under the posts for a memorable try.

There was still time for Shaw to again exploit Ipswich's left flank and he managed to get the ball down in the corner one handed before being dragged into touch. The difficult kick was not converted, a decisive factor in the match and Ipswich held a two point lead. Ipswich's defence held firm despite some intense pressure from the much larger Coventry pack, but most of the play was taking place in the Coventry half and a crucial turnover involving Rhinos Brendan Cook led to a huge up and under going over the Coventry wingers hand and safely into Pete Le Marquand hands for the decisive touch down under the posts Le Marquand got up to took the Conversion to seal a great victory for Ipswich over previously unbeaten Coventry. Ipswich's young back row of Cook, Signor and Andy Windridge worked tirelessly throughout the game taking everything their opponents threw at them and were the difference between the two sides.

Ipswich take a well earned weeks rest and are back in local Derby action at Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday 22nd June at 2.30pm when Bedford are the visitors.

IPSWICH RHINOS: Paul Le Marquand, Tavela Kwilimbi, Chick Knox Macaulay, Ryan Wood, Jel Barrett, Peter Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Adrian Evans, Paul Robert, Lee Haylock, Brendan Cook, Andrew Windridge, Dave Signor, Steve Gleeson, Tom Aylott, Adam Cook, Richard Jones.


	...MATCH REPORT... RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE JUNE 8th 2002 IPSWICH RHINOS 22 - 14 COVENTRY BEARS Battling Ipswich Rhinos pulled off the biggest shock of the season to overcome national table toppers Coventry Bears in a pulsating Rugby League Cross Conference encounter. Few outside observers gave Ipswich a chance against a side unbeaten this year with five straight wins. But Ipswich, led by Chick Knox Macaulay and Player Coach Paul Roberts, had worked hard in training leading up to this match and the players were quietly confident of proving recent improved form was no flash in the pan. Castleford Referee Paul Gluck's excellent handling enabled the two side to fully express themselves in a free flowing game in which the outcome was in doubt until Paul Le Marquands match winning last minute try and conversion sealed victory for the jubilant Rhinos. Ipswich's Player Coach Paul Roberts did his Welsh selection chances no harm with the opening try when he burrowed his way over from close range straight from the play the ball on ten minutes. Dave Signor added another try to extend the lead ten minutes from half time, before Coventry's Rob Lowe reduced the arrears with a try converted by Scott Carver. A feature of the first half was some relentless and bruising defence by both sides in a tense encounter. Tom Shaw exposed an overlap on the Ipswich left flank to bring the teams level on 50 minutes. England rugby union U19 international Tavela Kwilimbi made a good impression on his home debut after two tries at Saint Albans in May with a solid performance and he confidently ran several balls out of defence. For Coventry their South African stand off Alex Van Der Walt kept the Ipswich defence on their toes with some astute kicking. But ten minutes from time with the scores still level a touch of class from Scrum Half Paul Thurston tipped the scales towards the Rhinos. Thurston Picked up the ball on the half way line and looked when covered, but he threw two outrageuos dummies to sidestep his way through the Coventry defence before sprinting clear with time to celebrate before touching down under the posts for a memorable try. There was still time for Shaw to again exploit Ipswich's left flank and he managed to get the ball down in the corner one handed before being dragged into touch. The difficult kick was not converted, a decisive factor in the match and Ipswich held a two point lead. Ipswich's defence held firm despite some intense pressure from the much larger Coventry pack, but most of the play was taking place in the Coventry half and a crucial turnover involving Rhinos Brendan Cook led to a huge up and under going over the Coventry wingers hand and safely into Pete Le Marquand hands for the decisive touch down under the posts Le Marquand got up to took the Conversion to seal a great victory for Ipswich over previously unbeaten Coventry. Ipswich's young back row of Cook, Signor and Andy Windridge worked tirelessly throughout the game taking everything their opponents threw at them and were the difference between the two sides. Ipswich take a well earned weeks rest and are back in local Derby action at Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday 22nd June at 2.30pm when Bedford are the visitors. IPSWICH RHINOS: Paul Le Marquand, Tavela Kwilimbi, Chick Knox Macaulay, Ryan Wood, Jel Barrett, Peter Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Adrian Evans, Paul Robert, Lee Haylock, Brendan Cook, Andrew Windridge, Dave Signor, Steve Gleeson, Tom Aylott, Adam Cook, Richard Jones.