Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

HARRY JEPSON TROPHY
SEMI FINAL REPORT

24 AUGUST 2003
IPSWICH RHINOS 24 - 44 BRIDGEND BULLS
(played at Coventry)

RHINOS CELEBRATE BEST EVER SEASON
AFTER COURAGEOUS SEMI FINAL EXIT

Ipswich Rhino players partied into the early hours like winners after their defeat by Bridgend in the Harry Jepson Trophy semi final at Coventry on Sunday. On the day Bridgend's depth of experience and greater physical presence was sufficient to carry them through, but as the try count of 8 to 5 suggests, it was far from a Sunday afternoon stroll as the talented Ipswich youngsters made Bridgend fight every step of the way to the final. Far from being down hearted, talk on the coach home was about three famous play off victories against South Norfolk Saints, West London Sharks and Crawley Jets, and how next year the Rhinos are going all the way to the final. It would be a brave person who bets against it when you consider that only three of the Rhinos squad on Sunday where over 23 years old. In comparison Bridgend in their starting line up had Kevin Ellis and John Devereux who have both played first class rugby and veteran Great Britain rugby league international Alan Bateman.

With both sides committed to playing open attacking rugby it was only 3 minutes before Bridgend punished the Rhinos for conceding a penalty 30 metres out, Colin Williams finding the important gap to touch down, Jon Williams converting. The Rhinos, however, struck back immediately. Peter Le Marquand's superbly weighted kick setting up Dave West for an unconverted try. Kevin Ellis was outstanding marshaling the Bridgend attack and scored their second try with a break from the rear of a 15-meter scrum. Jon Williams then completed a fast passing passage of play to score in the corner on 18 minutes to make it 16 - 4 to the Blue Bulls. From the restart Bridgend knocked on forcing them to defend their line vigorously as Ipswich moved the ball quickly through the hands, until the last tackle when a delightfully disguised short ball from Peter Le Marquand opened a gap for Tane Trafford to score by the posts. Peter Le Marquand converting to make the score 16 -10 to Bridgend. However further trys by from Woodard, who chased down his own kick to score wide and from Colin Williams, both converted, extended the Bridgend lead to 28 - 14, by the half time interval.

Ipswich needed a quick score from the restart to keep in touch, and it came after only six minutes from Man of the match Tane Trafford . Adam Cook made a 30-meter break through the Bridgend defence only to be pulled down just short of the try line. The Rhinos quickly recycled the ball across the pitch to Trafford who weaved through the defence to score his second try. Bridgend responded with trys from Jon Williams and Kevin Ellis to make the score 36 -14 and set up a comfortable lead. Ipswich's young squad however, refused to lie down. In the 67th minute Peter Le Marquand scored the first of two trys after Tane Trafford had once again wiggled his way through the Bridgend defence. Geraint Williams scored the Blue Bulls final try of the afternoon when he was first to a neat grubber kick through the defence, and Peter Le Marquand added a final consolation try for the Rhinos, after good work from Mike Fields to make the final score Bridge Blue Bulls 44 - Ipswich Rhinos 24.

With both teams committed to playing open attacking rugby and in the best spirit of the game the standard of rugby was a credit to the Totalrl.com Rugby League Conference competition. On the day Bridgend proved too strong but Ipswich's young squad were not out classed and their ability and attitude on the pitch won them many new friends. As GB veteran Alan Bateman sportingly posed with the Rhino players for photographs he paid them the complement that the Rhinos had been the best team they had played this season.

Scorers:
Bridgend:
Tries: C. Williams (2), Ellis (2), J. Williams (2), Woodard, Lewis.
Goals: M. Davis (3), J. Williams (3).

Ipswich:
Tries: West, Trafford (2), Peter Le Marquand (2).
Goals: Peter Le Marquand (2).

Half Time: 28-10

Conditions: Sunny, strong breeze

Referee: Richard Morris (North Lancashire)
Men of the Match: Bridgend: Kevin Ellis. Ipswich - Tane Trafford.

Gamestar: Ipswich scrum half Tane Trafford scored twice and cause chaos in the Blue Bulls' defence every time he ran at them with the ball. Gamebreaker: Colin Williams' second try just before half time put just too much daylight between the sides.

Teams:
Bridgend Blue Bulls: 1 Mark Davies 2 Jon Williams 3 John Devereux 4 Carle Lewis 5 Lenny Woodard 6 Allan Bateman 7 Kevin Ellis (Capt) 8 Nathan Strong 9 Colin Daniel Williams 10 Hywel Jones 11 Paul Morgan 12 Gareth Bartlett 13 Carl Hocking Subs (all used) 14 Griff Davies 15 Geraint Lewis 16 Craig Fox 17 Grant Hall

Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul Le Marquand 2 Chik Knox-Macauley 3 Peter Smith 4 Michael Fields 5 David West 6 Peter Le Marquand (Capt) 7 Tane Trafford 8 Andrew Wilson 9 David Signor 10 Dan Garbutt 11 Andrew Windridge 12 Richard Burton 13 Brendan Cook Subs (all used) 14 Adam Cook 15 David Husband 16 Patrick Duffy 17 Matthew Harwood

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE HARRY JEPSON TROPHY SEMI FINAL REPORT 24 AUGUST 2003 IPSWICH RHINOS 24 - 44 BRIDGEND BULLS (played at Coventry) RHINOS CELEBRATE BEST EVER SEASON AFTER COURAGEOUS SEMI FINAL EXIT Ipswich Rhino players partied into the early hours like winners after their defeat by Bridgend in the Harry Jepson Trophy semi final at Coventry on Sunday. On the day Bridgend's depth of experience and greater physical presence was sufficient to carry them through, but as the try count of 8 to 5 suggests, it was far from a Sunday afternoon stroll as the talented Ipswich youngsters made Bridgend fight every step of the way to the final. Far from being down hearted, talk on the coach home was about three famous play off victories against South Norfolk Saints, West London Sharks and Crawley Jets, and how next year the Rhinos are going all the way to the final. It would be a brave person who bets against it when you consider that only three of the Rhinos squad on Sunday where over 23 years old. In comparison Bridgend in their starting line up had Kevin Ellis and John Devereux who have both played first class rugby and veteran Great Britain rugby league international Alan Bateman. With both sides committed to playing open attacking rugby it was only 3 minutes before Bridgend punished the Rhinos for conceding a penalty 30 metres out, Colin Williams finding the important gap to touch down, Jon Williams converting. The Rhinos, however, struck back immediately. Peter Le Marquand's superbly weighted kick setting up Dave West for an unconverted try. Kevin Ellis was outstanding marshaling the Bridgend attack and scored their second try with a break from the rear of a 15-meter scrum. Jon Williams then completed a fast passing passage of play to score in the corner on 18 minutes to make it 16 - 4 to the Blue Bulls. From the restart Bridgend knocked on forcing them to defend their line vigorously as Ipswich moved the ball quickly through the hands, until the last tackle when a delightfully disguised short ball from Peter Le Marquand opened a gap for Tane Trafford to score by the posts. Peter Le Marquand converting to make the score 16 -10 to Bridgend. However further trys by from Woodard, who chased down his own kick to score wide and from Colin Williams, both converted, extended the Bridgend lead to 28 - 14, by the half time interval. Ipswich needed a quick score from the restart to keep in touch, and it came after only six minutes from Man of the match Tane Trafford . Adam Cook made a 30-meter break through the Bridgend defence only to be pulled down just short of the try line. The Rhinos quickly recycled the ball across the pitch to Trafford who weaved through the defence to score his second try. Bridgend responded with trys from Jon Williams and Kevin Ellis to make the score 36 -14 and set up a comfortable lead. Ipswich's young squad however, refused to lie down. In the 67th minute Peter Le Marquand scored the first of two trys after Tane Trafford had once again wiggled his way through the Bridgend defence. Geraint Williams scored the Blue Bulls final try of the afternoon when he was first to a neat grubber kick through the defence, and Peter Le Marquand added a final consolation try for the Rhinos, after good work from Mike Fields to make the final score Bridge Blue Bulls 44 - Ipswich Rhinos 24. With both teams committed to playing open attacking rugby and in the best spirit of the game the standard of rugby was a credit to the Totalrl.com Rugby League Conference competition. On the day Bridgend proved too strong but Ipswich's young squad were not out classed and their ability and attitude on the pitch won them many new friends. As GB veteran Alan Bateman sportingly posed with the Rhino players for photographs he paid them the complement that the Rhinos had been the best team they had played this season. Scorers: Bridgend: Tries: C. Williams (2), Ellis (2), J. Williams (2), Woodard, Lewis. Goals: M. Davis (3), J. Williams (3). Ipswich: Tries: West, Trafford (2), Peter Le Marquand (2). Goals: Peter Le Marquand (2). Half Time: 28-10 Conditions: Sunny, strong breeze Referee: Richard Morris (North Lancashire) Men of the Match: Bridgend: Kevin Ellis. Ipswich - Tane Trafford. Gamestar: Ipswich scrum half Tane Trafford scored twice and cause chaos in the Blue Bulls' defence every time he ran at them with the ball. Gamebreaker: Colin Williams' second try just before half time put just too much daylight between the sides. Teams: Bridgend Blue Bulls: 1 Mark Davies 2 Jon Williams 3 John Devereux 4 Carle Lewis 5 Lenny Woodard 6 Allan Bateman 7 Kevin Ellis (Capt) 8 Nathan Strong 9 Colin Daniel Williams 10 Hywel Jones 11 Paul Morgan 12 Gareth Bartlett 13 Carl Hocking Subs (all used) 14 Griff Davies 15 Geraint Lewis 16 Craig Fox 17 Grant Hall Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul Le Marquand 2 Chik Knox-Macauley 3 Peter Smith 4 Michael Fields 5 David West 6 Peter Le Marquand (Capt) 7 Tane Trafford 8 Andrew Wilson 9 David Signor 10 Dan Garbutt 11 Andrew Windridge 12 Richard Burton 13 Brendan Cook Subs (all used) 14 Adam Cook 15 David Husband 16 Patrick Duffy 17 Matthew Harwood Reporter: Kevin Cook