Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

HARRY JEPSON TROPHY
PLAY-OFF ROUND 1 REPORT

2 AUGUST 2003

IPSWICH RHINOS 42 - 28 WEST LONDON SHARKS

ABOVE: The victorious Ipswich Rhinos team

Ipswich Rhinos brushed aside a much-fancied West London Shark's side to set up an all East Anglian play off game against South Norfolk Saints for a quarterfinal place in the Harry Jepson Trophy. The Rhinos will now travel to Norfolk next Saturday determined to put the disappoint of losing the Eastern Division title to South Norfolk Saints behind them and prove to the Saints who is East Anglia's premier side.

As expected West London fielded a strong physical side that included their highly rated amateur international Tom Howden at full back. However, all the Rhinos extra training and hard work off the field paid off when they produced their best display of attacking rugby this season. The Rhinos stunned the Sharks by taking a 10-point lead in the first ten minutes. From the Sharks first set of six tackles their kick failed to find touch, instead it was collected by Dave West 20 metres inside his own half. He flat footed the advancing defensive line, ran round the full back and then cut in to score behind the posts giving Peter Le Marquand an easy conversion.

Try scorer Peter Le Marquand, who also kicked 7 from 7 conversions

On 10 minutes a Rhinos attack broke down with a scrum awarded to the Sharks on the edge of their 20-metre area. The Sharks scrum half failed to put the ball in cleanly and the ball ran free before being snapped up by the Rhinos and quickly recycled to Peter Le Marquand to run through a crowded defence to score from 15 metres, before converting his own try. From the restart West London's long kick went dead behind the Rhinos try line forcing them to kick out from beneath the posts. The Rhinos kick was poor giving the Sharks the opportunity to put the Ipswich defence under immediate pressure, Gethin Daniel finding the gap to push past the Rhinos defence for an unconverted try.

On 21 minutes Brendan Cook made a 20-metre dash for the posts after the Sharks had conceded a penalty in the middle of the field, but was tackled ten metres out. Quick thinking Dave Signor scooted for the line drawing in three defenders before popping the ball to Adam Cook to touch down. Peter Le Marquand converting to make the score 18- 4. In the late stages of the first half the Sharks showed great determination to get back into the game and on a number of attacks seriously tested the Rhinos defence. On 35 minutes they finally broke the Ipswich defence to score a close range try converted by Simon Gare to make the half time score 18-16 to Ipswich and set up an intriguing second Half.

Half Time : Ipswich Rhinos 18 West London Sharks 16

ABOVE: More play-off match action

Within minutes of the restart Ipswich rocked the Sharks with two quick tries from the Cook brothers. The Sharks first set of six tackles in the second half finished with a kick deep into the Ipswich half where it was fielded by Dave West who set off on a long diagonal run up field to push the Sharks back behind their own 20 metre line. In the resulting attack Ipswich were awarded a penalty, which was quickly taken but fumbled. Rhino loose forward Brendan Cook was the quickest to react scooping up the loose ball and powering his way through a crowded defence to score by the post. From the restart an unbelievable passage of passing rugby from the Rhinos put them straight back into attack. As he crossed the half way line Mike Reeves drew two defenders before passing to Adam Cook to make a fine angle run to score under the posts. Both Tries were converted by Peter Le Marquand to make the score 30 - 16.

On 47 minutes West London punished the Ipswich defence for being slow to move up as a line giving the Sharks attack to much room to build up momentum and break through the line and score, Simon Gare converting to bring it back to 30 - 22 to the Rhinos. On 65 minutes Ipswich were awarded a scrum on the Sharks 20 metre line and in the resulting attack Chris Coates powered home from close range to score his first try for the club, Peter LeMarquand converting to make it 36 -22. South London, in a last attempt to salvage something from the game responded with an excellent breakaway attack. Only an incredible one on one tackle from the Rhino full back Paul Le Marquand foiled the break away. However, having made the tackle the Rhino full back was judged to have deliberately stopped the man from getting to his feet and was sin binned.

ABOVE: Dave West being man handled into touch yards short of try line

The Sharks immediately tried to capitalise on the loss of the full back and put the Rhino defence under considerable pressure. The Rhinos held out until the 78th minute but a kick to the corner found Stuart Daniel on the over lap to score in the corner. However, there was just sufficient time left for Ipswich to score a late try through Mike Reeves, Peter Le Marquand converting to make the final Score Ipswich Rhinos 42 - West London Sharks 28. Ipswich must now refocus themselves for South Norfolk Saints next week with a quarterfinal place and a moral victory to play for.

Man of the Match: Dave Signor (Ipswich), Simon Gare (Sharks).

Ipswich: Paul Le Marquand, Chic Knox Macaulay, and Alex Stretton-Thomsett. Mike Reeves, Dave West, Peter Le Marquand, Tane Trafford, Andrew Wilson, David Signor, Dan Garbutt, Andrew Windridge, Richard Burton, Brendan Cook, Adam Cook, Daryl Walters, Stuart Bowden, Chris Coates.

Scorers:
Trys: Adam Cook 2, Brendan Cook, Mike Reeves, Peter Le Marquand, Chris Coates, and Dave West.
Conversions: Peter Le Marquand 7 from 7. Sin Bin: Paul Le Marquand - Professional foul.

West London: Tom Howden, Dan Coffey, Paul Richards, Stan Terrey, Rob Walsh, Dave Lindenmeyer, Stuart Daniel, Mick Whitehead, Simon Gare, Alex Sanerive, Nathen Bennet, Tom Wildegoose, Mark Pearson, Stuart Gilstinane, Gethin Daniel, Mike Davies, Daniel Wright. (Regret Sharks team sheet not legible.)

Scorers:
Trys: Gethin Daniel, Stuart Daniel, Unknown 3
Conversions : Simon Gare 4 from 5

ABOVE: Mike Reeves about to score

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE HARRY JEPSON TROPHY PLAY-OFF ROUND 1 REPORT 2 AUGUST 2003 IPSWICH RHINOS 42 - 28 WEST LONDON SHARKS ABOVE: The victorious Ipswich Rhinos team Ipswich Rhinos brushed aside a much-fancied West London Shark's side to set up an all East Anglian play off game against South Norfolk Saints for a quarterfinal place in the Harry Jepson Trophy. The Rhinos will now travel to Norfolk next Saturday determined to put the disappoint of losing the Eastern Division title to South Norfolk Saints behind them and prove to the Saints who is East Anglia's premier side. As expected West London fielded a strong physical side that included their highly rated amateur international Tom Howden at full back. However, all the Rhinos extra training and hard work off the field paid off when they produced their best display of attacking rugby this season. The Rhinos stunned the Sharks by taking a 10-point lead in the first ten minutes. From the Sharks first set of six tackles their kick failed to find touch, instead it was collected by Dave West 20 metres inside his own half. He flat footed the advancing defensive line, ran round the full back and then cut in to score behind the posts giving Peter Le Marquand an easy conversion. Try scorer Peter Le Marquand, who also kicked 7 from 7 conversions On 10 minutes a Rhinos attack broke down with a scrum awarded to the Sharks on the edge of their 20-metre area. The Sharks scrum half failed to put the ball in cleanly and the ball ran free before being snapped up by the Rhinos and quickly recycled to Peter Le Marquand to run through a crowded defence to score from 15 metres, before converting his own try. From the restart West London's long kick went dead behind the Rhinos try line forcing them to kick out from beneath the posts. The Rhinos kick was poor giving the Sharks the opportunity to put the Ipswich defence under immediate pressure, Gethin Daniel finding the gap to push past the Rhinos defence for an unconverted try. On 21 minutes Brendan Cook made a 20-metre dash for the posts after the Sharks had conceded a penalty in the middle of the field, but was tackled ten metres out. Quick thinking Dave Signor scooted for the line drawing in three defenders before popping the ball to Adam Cook to touch down. Peter Le Marquand converting to make the score 18- 4. In the late stages of the first half the Sharks showed great determination to get back into the game and on a number of attacks seriously tested the Rhinos defence. On 35 minutes they finally broke the Ipswich defence to score a close range try converted by Simon Gare to make the half time score 18-16 to Ipswich and set up an intriguing second Half. Half Time : Ipswich Rhinos 18 West London Sharks 16 ABOVE: More play-off match action Within minutes of the restart Ipswich rocked the Sharks with two quick tries from the Cook brothers. The Sharks first set of six tackles in the second half finished with a kick deep into the Ipswich half where it was fielded by Dave West who set off on a long diagonal run up field to push the Sharks back behind their own 20 metre line. In the resulting attack Ipswich were awarded a penalty, which was quickly taken but fumbled. Rhino loose forward Brendan Cook was the quickest to react scooping up the loose ball and powering his way through a crowded defence to score by the post. From the restart an unbelievable passage of passing rugby from the Rhinos put them straight back into attack. As he crossed the half way line Mike Reeves drew two defenders before passing to Adam Cook to make a fine angle run to score under the posts. Both Tries were converted by Peter Le Marquand to make the score 30 - 16. On 47 minutes West London punished the Ipswich defence for being slow to move up as a line giving the Sharks attack to much room to build up momentum and break through the line and score, Simon Gare converting to bring it back to 30 - 22 to the Rhinos. On 65 minutes Ipswich were awarded a scrum on the Sharks 20 metre line and in the resulting attack Chris Coates powered home from close range to score his first try for the club, Peter LeMarquand converting to make it 36 -22. South London, in a last attempt to salvage something from the game responded with an excellent breakaway attack. Only an incredible one on one tackle from the Rhino full back Paul Le Marquand foiled the break away. However, having made the tackle the Rhino full back was judged to have deliberately stopped the man from getting to his feet and was sin binned. ABOVE: Dave West being man handled into touch yards short of try line The Sharks immediately tried to capitalise on the loss of the full back and put the Rhino defence under considerable pressure. The Rhinos held out until the 78th minute but a kick to the corner found Stuart Daniel on the over lap to score in the corner. However, there was just sufficient time left for Ipswich to score a late try through Mike Reeves, Peter Le Marquand converting to make the final Score Ipswich Rhinos 42 - West London Sharks 28. Ipswich must now refocus themselves for South Norfolk Saints next week with a quarterfinal place and a moral victory to play for. Man of the Match: Dave Signor (Ipswich), Simon Gare (Sharks). Ipswich: Paul Le Marquand, Chic Knox Macaulay, and Alex Stretton-Thomsett. Mike Reeves, Dave West, Peter Le Marquand, Tane Trafford, Andrew Wilson, David Signor, Dan Garbutt, Andrew Windridge, Richard Burton, Brendan Cook, Adam Cook, Daryl Walters, Stuart Bowden, Chris Coates. Scorers: Trys: Adam Cook 2, Brendan Cook, Mike Reeves, Peter Le Marquand, Chris Coates, and Dave West. Conversions: Peter Le Marquand 7 from 7. Sin Bin: Paul Le Marquand - Professional foul. West London: Tom Howden, Dan Coffey, Paul Richards, Stan Terrey, Rob Walsh, Dave Lindenmeyer, Stuart Daniel, Mick Whitehead, Simon Gare, Alex Sanerive, Nathen Bennet, Tom Wildegoose, Mark Pearson, Stuart Gilstinane, Gethin Daniel, Mike Davies, Daniel Wright. (Regret Sharks team sheet not legible.) Scorers: Trys: Gethin Daniel, Stuart Daniel, Unknown 3 Conversions : Simon Gare 4 from 5 ABOVE: Mike Reeves about to score Reporter: Kevin Cook