Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

5 July 2003
Ipswich Rhinos 48 - 0 Luton

The Ipswich Rhinos, determined to put last week's defeat to Essex Eels behind them, put in an extra training night and went back-to-basics during the week. The result was that they produced a polished display of attractive Rugby League, brimming with confidence. Luton Vipers, with Eastern Division championship aspirations themselves, were well drilled and tackled hard throughout, but were at times shell-shocked at the pace of the Ipswich game.

Mike Fields opened the Rhinos' account on 4 minutes with a sprint to the corner, having intercepted a pass on the half way line. Peter LeMarquand converted from the side line, the first of eight goals of the afternoon. Dave West scored his first of 4 tries on 12 minutes with a break down the left wing, before cutting in under the posts to give Peter Le Marquand an easy conversion. On 20 minutes, Peter LeMarquand broke through the Luton defensive line, releasing a clever switch pass to Andy Windridge who split the defenders with an angled run to score under the posts. Dave West then made the score 24-0 at half time when he followed up his own grubber kick after a Luton player dropped the ball on the halfway line, to score in the corner.

Dave West

Luton enjoyed their best spell of the game with a spirited attacking start to the second half and only some determined tackling on their own try line by the Rhinos stopped Luton pulling points back. Alex Stratton-Thomsett was called upon to make two superb high catches under considerable pressure behind his own try line, as Luton tested the Rhinos defence with high kicks to the corner. The Vipers preparation for this top of the table clash was two big wins against St Ives and Cambridge, and found as Ipswich had done against South Norfolk, that it is hard to regain basic discipline. Too often they surrendered possession in promising positions with basic errors. Even so Luton will be disappointed that their contribution to the game was not reflected in the scoreline, especially in the second half, when they never gave up hope of pulling back points.

On 51 minutes, a Luton error in front of the Ipswich posts gave a scrum to Ipswich from which Peter Le Marquand broke to within metres of the Vipers' try line. The ball was quickly re-cycled to Dave West, who pushed his way over the line from 2 metres. Rhinos' man of the match Brendan Cook added the sixth try with a 70 metre run down the centre of the pitch breaking numerous tackles on route. Dave West scored his final try on 65 minutes after good work by Peter LeMarquand and Chik Knox-Macaulay put him clear on the wing to score from close range. On 69 minutes Dave Signor finished a fine passing move by diving in under the posts for the Rhinos' final try of the afternoon. Captain Peter Le Marquand kicked 8 from 8 to make a final score 48-0.

Peter Le Marquand

With the remaining two league games Against Cambridge at home next week and away to St. Ives the week after, realistically the win against Luton ensures the Rhinos of a top 2 position in the league and therefore a championship play off place.

South Norfolk are the only team with a real chance of stopping Ipswich from lifting the Eastern Division title as they are equal on points with a game in hand. However, they will have to win all of their remaining games which includes a home and away against Luton who will now be desperate to make second place themselves. Big wins in their last two games are no longer necessary for Ipswich, so they can concentrate on their training and use the games to perfect the basics in anticipation of having to play one of the big London teams in the play offs.

Ipswich: Paul Le Marquand, Alex Stratton-Thomsett, Chik Knox-Macaulay, Michael Fields, David West, Peter Le Marquand (c), David Signor, Andrew Wilson, Vaughan Evans, Andrew Windridge, Richard Burton, Matthew Harwood, Brendan Cook, Peter Smith, Stuart Bowden, David Green, Steven Simms.

Luton : James Fee, Kieran Perry, Liam Tiddy, Stephen Evans, Darren Thomas, Paul Hart, Matthew Hyland, Gareth Young, Gary Duffy, Stu Barrow, Karl Belmar, Masie Masterton, Marrick Murphy, Jamie Newell, Casey Waterfield, Carl Perry, Nick Peters.

Scorers
Ipswich:
Tries: Dave West (4), Mike Fields, Brendan Cook, Andrew Windridge, David Signor.
Goals - Peter LeMarquand (8)
Half-time: 24-0

Man of the match
Luton: Masie Masterton
Ipswich: Brendan Cook

Game Breaker: Mike Fields, for his opening try for Ipswich and an outstanding tackling performance throughout.
Game Star: Dave West for 4 stunning tries, a great turn of speed and outstanding grasp of the game after only 2 months.

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 5 July 2003 Ipswich Rhinos 48 - 0 Luton The Ipswich Rhinos, determined to put last week's defeat to Essex Eels behind them, put in an extra training night and went back-to-basics during the week. The result was that they produced a polished display of attractive Rugby League, brimming with confidence. Luton Vipers, with Eastern Division championship aspirations themselves, were well drilled and tackled hard throughout, but were at times shell-shocked at the pace of the Ipswich game. Mike Fields opened the Rhinos' account on 4 minutes with a sprint to the corner, having intercepted a pass on the half way line. Peter LeMarquand converted from the side line, the first of eight goals of the afternoon. Dave West scored his first of 4 tries on 12 minutes with a break down the left wing, before cutting in under the posts to give Peter Le Marquand an easy conversion. On 20 minutes, Peter LeMarquand broke through the Luton defensive line, releasing a clever switch pass to Andy Windridge who split the defenders with an angled run to score under the posts. Dave West then made the score 24-0 at half time when he followed up his own grubber kick after a Luton player dropped the ball on the halfway line, to score in the corner. Dave West Luton enjoyed their best spell of the game with a spirited attacking start to the second half and only some determined tackling on their own try line by the Rhinos stopped Luton pulling points back. Alex Stratton-Thomsett was called upon to make two superb high catches under considerable pressure behind his own try line, as Luton tested the Rhinos defence with high kicks to the corner. The Vipers preparation for this top of the table clash was two big wins against St Ives and Cambridge, and found as Ipswich had done against South Norfolk, that it is hard to regain basic discipline. Too often they surrendered possession in promising positions with basic errors. Even so Luton will be disappointed that their contribution to the game was not reflected in the scoreline, especially in the second half, when they never gave up hope of pulling back points. On 51 minutes, a Luton error in front of the Ipswich posts gave a scrum to Ipswich from which Peter Le Marquand broke to within metres of the Vipers' try line. The ball was quickly re-cycled to Dave West, who pushed his way over the line from 2 metres. Rhinos' man of the match Brendan Cook added the sixth try with a 70 metre run down the centre of the pitch breaking numerous tackles on route. Dave West scored his final try on 65 minutes after good work by Peter LeMarquand and Chik Knox-Macaulay put him clear on the wing to score from close range. On 69 minutes Dave Signor finished a fine passing move by diving in under the posts for the Rhinos' final try of the afternoon. Captain Peter Le Marquand kicked 8 from 8 to make a final score 48-0. Peter Le Marquand With the remaining two league games Against Cambridge at home next week and away to St. Ives the week after, realistically the win against Luton ensures the Rhinos of a top 2 position in the league and therefore a championship play off place. South Norfolk are the only team with a real chance of stopping Ipswich from lifting the Eastern Division title as they are equal on points with a game in hand. However, they will have to win all of their remaining games which includes a home and away against Luton who will now be desperate to make second place themselves. Big wins in their last two games are no longer necessary for Ipswich, so they can concentrate on their training and use the games to perfect the basics in anticipation of having to play one of the big London teams in the play offs. Ipswich: Paul Le Marquand, Alex Stratton-Thomsett, Chik Knox-Macaulay, Michael Fields, David West, Peter Le Marquand (c), David Signor, Andrew Wilson, Vaughan Evans, Andrew Windridge, Richard Burton, Matthew Harwood, Brendan Cook, Peter Smith, Stuart Bowden, David Green, Steven Simms. Luton : James Fee, Kieran Perry, Liam Tiddy, Stephen Evans, Darren Thomas, Paul Hart, Matthew Hyland, Gareth Young, Gary Duffy, Stu Barrow, Karl Belmar, Masie Masterton, Marrick Murphy, Jamie Newell, Casey Waterfield, Carl Perry, Nick Peters. Scorers Ipswich: Tries: Dave West (4), Mike Fields, Brendan Cook, Andrew Windridge, David Signor. Goals - Peter LeMarquand (8) Half-time: 24-0 Man of the match Luton: Masie Masterton Ipswich: Brendan Cook Game Breaker: Mike Fields, for his opening try for Ipswich and an outstanding tackling performance throughout. Game Star: Dave West for 4 stunning tries, a great turn of speed and outstanding grasp of the game after only 2 months. Reporter: Kevin Cook