Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE
PLAY-OFF

AUGUST 3rd 2002
IPSWICH RHINOS 0 - 78 COVENTRY BEARS

RHINOS BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED

Ipswich crashed to a huge home defeat. But Coventry, faced with just 13 opponents will be wondering how they failed to reach three figures against the Rhinos who were reduced to ten men in the first half and played with just nine for most of the second. Ipswich were without a large portion of regular players due to a family wedding (the Le Marquands), Injury, and postings abroad and the line up was much changed from the side that had battled to quality wins over Coventry and St Albans(twice) in recent weeks. No one was more suprised by the lack of Ipswich Numbers than Coventry and the Bears took the entire first half before the penny dropped. The first thirteen minutes were deadlocked, belyling what was approaching and full of the typical sparring moves and probes between two sides in a top of the table clash.

Opening nerves were settled with a Coventry penalty on the quarter hour. But the tight match Coventry anticipated did not materialise and without replacements any Injuries meant Ipswich would soon be chasing shadows. Lee Clasby suffered an early arm injury, while Brendan Cook clashed heads before Tom Aylotts knee seized up to leave Ipswich with ten men. Coventry ran in some fine first half tries but the half time score was only 30-0. Ipswich played with real battling qualities for a full fifty minutes before buckling to sheer numbers and the over lap. A concentrated effort to breach the Coventry line was thwarted with several sets of six in a row going unrewarded.

Despite some heroics in the Ipswich team their opponents had several standout players and the game really was up on sixty minutes. There were some comical moments which included the obligatory second half drop goal attempt, an early tackle kick and a flighted short restart easily regathered and returned over the line by Coventry but these all came in the dying moments of a match with just nine blue shirts on the field with the Players having put in a big effort through the game. Ipswich have to regroup and re assemble for the next game at home to Luton on Saturday. Coventry roll on to Nottingham and could possibly claim a semi final place by virtue of a win over the outlaws. St Albans have dreams of a semi final place themselves. Ipswich and Nottingham could yet upset the applecart with wins in their last two fixtures.

Ipswich Team: Full Back: Joel Barrett. Wings: Tom Aylott and Adam Cook. Centres: Mike Reeves and Ryan Wood. Half Backs: Lee Clasby and Steve Gleeson. Props: Lee Haylock and Andy Wilson. Hooker: Evan Player. Second Rows: James Gregory and Brendan Cook. Loose Forward: Andy Windridge.


	...MATCH REPORT... RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PLAY-OFF AUGUST 3rd 2002 IPSWICH RHINOS 0 - 78 COVENTRY BEARS RHINOS BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED Ipswich crashed to a huge home defeat. But Coventry, faced with just 13 opponents will be wondering how they failed to reach three figures against the Rhinos who were reduced to ten men in the first half and played with just nine for most of the second. Ipswich were without a large portion of regular players due to a family wedding (the Le Marquands), Injury, and postings abroad and the line up was much changed from the side that had battled to quality wins over Coventry and St Albans(twice) in recent weeks. No one was more suprised by the lack of Ipswich Numbers than Coventry and the Bears took the entire first half before the penny dropped. The first thirteen minutes were deadlocked, belyling what was approaching and full of the typical sparring moves and probes between two sides in a top of the table clash. Opening nerves were settled with a Coventry penalty on the quarter hour. But the tight match Coventry anticipated did not materialise and without replacements any Injuries meant Ipswich would soon be chasing shadows. Lee Clasby suffered an early arm injury, while Brendan Cook clashed heads before Tom Aylotts knee seized up to leave Ipswich with ten men. Coventry ran in some fine first half tries but the half time score was only 30-0. Ipswich played with real battling qualities for a full fifty minutes before buckling to sheer numbers and the over lap. A concentrated effort to breach the Coventry line was thwarted with several sets of six in a row going unrewarded. Despite some heroics in the Ipswich team their opponents had several standout players and the game really was up on sixty minutes. There were some comical moments which included the obligatory second half drop goal attempt, an early tackle kick and a flighted short restart easily regathered and returned over the line by Coventry but these all came in the dying moments of a match with just nine blue shirts on the field with the Players having put in a big effort through the game. Ipswich have to regroup and re assemble for the next game at home to Luton on Saturday. Coventry roll on to Nottingham and could possibly claim a semi final place by virtue of a win over the outlaws. St Albans have dreams of a semi final place themselves. Ipswich and Nottingham could yet upset the applecart with wins in their last two fixtures. Ipswich Team: Full Back: Joel Barrett. Wings: Tom Aylott and Adam Cook. Centres: Mike Reeves and Ryan Wood. Half Backs: Lee Clasby and Steve Gleeson. Props: Lee Haylock and Andy Wilson. Hooker: Evan Player. Second Rows: James Gregory and Brendan Cook. Loose Forward: Andy Windridge.