Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

3rd May 2003

South Norfolk Saints 20 - 38 Ipswich Rhinos

The Bellway Homes Ipswich Rhinos made a dream start to their 2003 season with a well-deserved victory in the local derby with the South Norfolk Saints. With several experienced squad players missing, mainly due to end of Union season commitments, the Rhinos fielded no less than eight new players in their 17 man squad, some of for which this was their first ever rugby league experience. Yet they dominated the first half of this encounter and finished worthy winners.

The Rhinos opened the scoring as early as the third minute when the Saints conceded a penalty in front of their own posts for interference - Peter La Marquand converting the simple kick. From the restart the Rhinos completed their next set of six tackles, Peter Le Marquand's lofted kick was well fielded by Brendan Cook but Saints were penalised for ripping the ball in the tackle. From the penalty James Gregory broke the defensive line to score an unconverted try from 10 metres. The early scores settled the Ipswich nerves and they start to pass the ball with confidence opening big gaps in the Saints defense to run at.

On 13 minutes Peter Le Marquand broke from the half way line, flat footed the full back with a dummy pass, to run the ball in under the posts. From the restart Ipswich reclaimed possession and from the second tackle Dave West made an incredible 65 metre run down the centre of the pitch only to be tackled 2 metres from the try line. Vaughan Evans however completed the try with a simple scoot, Peter Le Marquand converting both trys. Taine Trafford in his first match for the Rhinos was outstanding at scrum half and added a further try on 26 minutes when he weaved his way through the Saints defense. Peter Le Marquand converting to bring the score up to 24 - 0.

Ipswich, however, were guilty of losing concentration in the last 10 minutes before half time allowing South Norfolk to get back into the game with trys from Aaron Kwong and Steve Falder, Paul Lumley converting the second. Then on the stroke of half time Rhinos Taine Trafford offloaded to Mike Fields, who's fine angled run from 25 metres split the Saints defense, to score an unconverted try to make the score 28-10 at half time.

South Norfolk regrouped at half time and totally dominated the first twenty minutes of the second half, only some resolute defending from Ipswich kept them from adding to their score. It was however Ipswich who broke the deadlock. 0n 58 minutes when on a 5th tackle instead of kicking they chose to run the ball, passing it quickly along the attacking line for Andy McCaulay to score an unconverted try in the corner. Saints replied with an unconverted try on 65 minutes from Sam Gluck, only to have Martin Sands sent off for a high tackle.

Rhinos Kieran Phelan made a break down the touch line when he was knocked in to touch by a flying tackle from Sands. Whilst spectators speculated as to whether the tackle was worthy of a Yellow card the Referee produced the red and dismissed Sands from the field. From the resulting penalty, The Rhinos moved the ball quickly across field for to give Taine Trafford an easy run in for his second try which was converted by Peter Le Marquand. Hodginson scored a consolation try for South Norfolk on the stroke of full time, which was converted by Alex Dixon to make the final score 38 -20 to Ipswich.

It was an encouraging win for the Ipswich Rhinos. Particularly encouraging was all eight new player showed they have the ability to play at conference level, which means there will be competition for places for the visit of Essex Eels to Humber Doucy Lane next Saturday at 2-30 p.m.

Ipswich Rhinos: Le Marquand (Paul), West, Knox-Macaulay, Fields, Macaulay, Le Marquand (Peter), Trafford, Wilson, Evans, Windridge, Gregory, Cook (B), Haylock, Williams, Foulger, Duffy, Phelan.
Scorers:
Trys: Gregory, Le Marquand (Peter), Evans, Trafford (2), Fields, Macaulay.
Conversions: Peter Le Marquand (4)
Penalties: Peter Le Marquand

South Norfolk Saints: Scott, Falder, Reynolds, Smith, Wickham, Sharp (Richard), Lumley, Bishop, Kwong, Sands, Sharp (Rob.), Horne, Gluck, Hodginson, Vooght, Davies, Dixon. Scorers:
Trys: Kwong, Falder, Gluck, Hodginson.
Conversions: Lumley, Dixon
Sending Off: Sands (high tackle)

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 3rd May 2003 South Norfolk Saints 20 - 38 Ipswich Rhinos The Bellway Homes Ipswich Rhinos made a dream start to their 2003 season with a well-deserved victory in the local derby with the South Norfolk Saints. With several experienced squad players missing, mainly due to end of Union season commitments, the Rhinos fielded no less than eight new players in their 17 man squad, some of for which this was their first ever rugby league experience. Yet they dominated the first half of this encounter and finished worthy winners. The Rhinos opened the scoring as early as the third minute when the Saints conceded a penalty in front of their own posts for interference - Peter La Marquand converting the simple kick. From the restart the Rhinos completed their next set of six tackles, Peter Le Marquand's lofted kick was well fielded by Brendan Cook but Saints were penalised for ripping the ball in the tackle. From the penalty James Gregory broke the defensive line to score an unconverted try from 10 metres. The early scores settled the Ipswich nerves and they start to pass the ball with confidence opening big gaps in the Saints defense to run at. On 13 minutes Peter Le Marquand broke from the half way line, flat footed the full back with a dummy pass, to run the ball in under the posts. From the restart Ipswich reclaimed possession and from the second tackle Dave West made an incredible 65 metre run down the centre of the pitch only to be tackled 2 metres from the try line. Vaughan Evans however completed the try with a simple scoot, Peter Le Marquand converting both trys. Taine Trafford in his first match for the Rhinos was outstanding at scrum half and added a further try on 26 minutes when he weaved his way through the Saints defense. Peter Le Marquand converting to bring the score up to 24 - 0. Ipswich, however, were guilty of losing concentration in the last 10 minutes before half time allowing South Norfolk to get back into the game with trys from Aaron Kwong and Steve Falder, Paul Lumley converting the second. Then on the stroke of half time Rhinos Taine Trafford offloaded to Mike Fields, who's fine angled run from 25 metres split the Saints defense, to score an unconverted try to make the score 28-10 at half time. South Norfolk regrouped at half time and totally dominated the first twenty minutes of the second half, only some resolute defending from Ipswich kept them from adding to their score. It was however Ipswich who broke the deadlock. 0n 58 minutes when on a 5th tackle instead of kicking they chose to run the ball, passing it quickly along the attacking line for Andy McCaulay to score an unconverted try in the corner. Saints replied with an unconverted try on 65 minutes from Sam Gluck, only to have Martin Sands sent off for a high tackle. Rhinos Kieran Phelan made a break down the touch line when he was knocked in to touch by a flying tackle from Sands. Whilst spectators speculated as to whether the tackle was worthy of a Yellow card the Referee produced the red and dismissed Sands from the field. From the resulting penalty, The Rhinos moved the ball quickly across field for to give Taine Trafford an easy run in for his second try which was converted by Peter Le Marquand. Hodginson scored a consolation try for South Norfolk on the stroke of full time, which was converted by Alex Dixon to make the final score 38 -20 to Ipswich. It was an encouraging win for the Ipswich Rhinos. Particularly encouraging was all eight new player showed they have the ability to play at conference level, which means there will be competition for places for the visit of Essex Eels to Humber Doucy Lane next Saturday at 2-30 p.m. Ipswich Rhinos: Le Marquand (Paul), West, Knox-Macaulay, Fields, Macaulay, Le Marquand (Peter), Trafford, Wilson, Evans, Windridge, Gregory, Cook (B), Haylock, Williams, Foulger, Duffy, Phelan. Scorers: Trys: Gregory, Le Marquand (Peter), Evans, Trafford (2), Fields, Macaulay. Conversions: Peter Le Marquand (4) Penalties: Peter Le Marquand South Norfolk Saints: Scott, Falder, Reynolds, Smith, Wickham, Sharp (Richard), Lumley, Bishop, Kwong, Sands, Sharp (Rob.), Horne, Gluck, Hodginson, Vooght, Davies, Dixon. Scorers: Trys: Kwong, Falder, Gluck, Hodginson. Conversions: Lumley, Dixon Sending Off: Sands (high tackle) Reporter: Kevin Cook