Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

10 July 2004

TOP MARKS FOR RHINOS

Luton Vipers 18 - 43 Ipswich Rhinos

Ipswich Rhinos finished top of the Eastern Division with 10 wins in 10 games with a win over a hard working, physical Luton side. Ipswich stunned Luton with three early tries from Adam Cook (2) and Mike Reeves, but as the first half progress Luton used their superior physical strength to put the Rhinos under pressure, and despite an early Ipswich try in the second half, there was a spell when it looked if the game could go either way. However in the last 20 minutes the Rhinos reverted to their passing game and run in three late tries to secure a comfortable victory. The Vipers provided Ipswich with one of their stiffest tests of the season and showed they have still have the ability to cause a few surprises in the play offs.

Ipswich opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute when scrum half Adam Cook scored the first of a hat trick. A flowing cross-field move reached Cook 15 yards in front of the posts who broke through two tacklers to score under the posts. Luton, against the run of play, scored an unconverted try through Haylett after Ipswich conceded a penalty 10 yards from their own line. However from the restart Luton knocked on and from the resulting scrum Mike Reeves broke through the Luton defence to score behind the posts. Ipswich retained possession from the restart and in a fast moving set both Barrett and Signor made good ground before the ball reached Adam Cook who found a gap in the Luton defence and side stepped the full back to score his second under the posts. Peter LeMarquand converted al three early tries to make the score 18-4 after thirteen minutes. As the first half progressed Luton started to look more dangerous using their physical strength to put the Rhinos under pressure and were unlucky to have a try disallowed for a forward pass on the stroke of half time, but the score remained 18-4 to the Rhinos at the break.

Luton maintained the pressure at the start of the second half and after only three minutes Chris Gibson powered his way over the Rhinos line after they had conceded a scrum for a knock on. However, despite further pressure it was the Rhinos who scored next on 52 minutes. Peter LeMarquand was held up on the line and the ball was recycled to Adam Cook who evaded tacklers to run in and score his third try of the game under the posts. Luton however, stuck to their game plan and scored two quick tries to keep them in touch at 24-18. On 61 minutes influential Stuart Langhorn showed great strength in driving through the Rhino line to score from 10 yards, and on 67 minutes Chris Gibson scored his second of the day when on the last tackle he collected his own clever little chip over the defence to score by the posts. The turning point of the second half was when Ipswich scored twice in as many minutes. With Luton dangerously close to the Ipswich line Mike Reeves intercepted a cross-field pass and sprinted the full length of the pitch to touch down between the Vipers posts. Then from the restart Joel Barrett run the ball back to the half way line where under pressure he off loaded to Dave West who rounded the defence and cut in past the full back to score under the posts. Peter LeMarquand's kicking from place kicks and from the hands was faultless all afternoon. He converted all of the Rhinos tries and on 74 minutes kicked a perfectly executed drop goal from 30 yards. Then on 78 minutes with a cleverly positioned grubber kick set up Joel Barrett for a simple try To make the final score 43-18 to the Rhinos.

The win secures the Eastern Division title and sets up home advantage against North London Skolars in the play offs in two weeks time. It also completed a double as before the main match the Rhinos second team scored a 46 -12 victory over the Vipers second string. Next week the Rhinos will be taking part in the Middlesex 9's tournament, which will pitch them against many national division and foreign exile sides.

Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul LeMarquand, 2 Alex Stratton-Thomsett, 3 Joel Barrett, 4 Peter Smith, 5 Dave West, 6 Peter Le Marquand, 7 Adam Cook, 8 Mike Reeves, 9 Dave Signor, 10 Dan Garbutt, 11 Darryl Walters, 12 Richard Burton, 13 Andy Windridge, 14 Paul Edmondson, 15 Nick Woodland, 16 Paul Partrick, 17 Lee Elliston,

Scorers:
Tries: Adam Cook 3, Mike Reeves 2, Joel Barrett, Dave West.
Conversions : Peter LeMarquand 7 from 7 plus 1 drop goal.

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... 2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 10 July 2004 TOP MARKS FOR RHINOS Luton Vipers 18 - 43 Ipswich Rhinos Ipswich Rhinos finished top of the Eastern Division with 10 wins in 10 games with a win over a hard working, physical Luton side. Ipswich stunned Luton with three early tries from Adam Cook (2) and Mike Reeves, but as the first half progress Luton used their superior physical strength to put the Rhinos under pressure, and despite an early Ipswich try in the second half, there was a spell when it looked if the game could go either way. However in the last 20 minutes the Rhinos reverted to their passing game and run in three late tries to secure a comfortable victory. The Vipers provided Ipswich with one of their stiffest tests of the season and showed they have still have the ability to cause a few surprises in the play offs. Ipswich opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute when scrum half Adam Cook scored the first of a hat trick. A flowing cross-field move reached Cook 15 yards in front of the posts who broke through two tacklers to score under the posts. Luton, against the run of play, scored an unconverted try through Haylett after Ipswich conceded a penalty 10 yards from their own line. However from the restart Luton knocked on and from the resulting scrum Mike Reeves broke through the Luton defence to score behind the posts. Ipswich retained possession from the restart and in a fast moving set both Barrett and Signor made good ground before the ball reached Adam Cook who found a gap in the Luton defence and side stepped the full back to score his second under the posts. Peter LeMarquand converted al three early tries to make the score 18-4 after thirteen minutes. As the first half progressed Luton started to look more dangerous using their physical strength to put the Rhinos under pressure and were unlucky to have a try disallowed for a forward pass on the stroke of half time, but the score remained 18-4 to the Rhinos at the break. Luton maintained the pressure at the start of the second half and after only three minutes Chris Gibson powered his way over the Rhinos line after they had conceded a scrum for a knock on. However, despite further pressure it was the Rhinos who scored next on 52 minutes. Peter LeMarquand was held up on the line and the ball was recycled to Adam Cook who evaded tacklers to run in and score his third try of the game under the posts. Luton however, stuck to their game plan and scored two quick tries to keep them in touch at 24-18. On 61 minutes influential Stuart Langhorn showed great strength in driving through the Rhino line to score from 10 yards, and on 67 minutes Chris Gibson scored his second of the day when on the last tackle he collected his own clever little chip over the defence to score by the posts. The turning point of the second half was when Ipswich scored twice in as many minutes. With Luton dangerously close to the Ipswich line Mike Reeves intercepted a cross-field pass and sprinted the full length of the pitch to touch down between the Vipers posts. Then from the restart Joel Barrett run the ball back to the half way line where under pressure he off loaded to Dave West who rounded the defence and cut in past the full back to score under the posts. Peter LeMarquand's kicking from place kicks and from the hands was faultless all afternoon. He converted all of the Rhinos tries and on 74 minutes kicked a perfectly executed drop goal from 30 yards. Then on 78 minutes with a cleverly positioned grubber kick set up Joel Barrett for a simple try To make the final score 43-18 to the Rhinos. The win secures the Eastern Division title and sets up home advantage against North London Skolars in the play offs in two weeks time. It also completed a double as before the main match the Rhinos second team scored a 46 -12 victory over the Vipers second string. Next week the Rhinos will be taking part in the Middlesex 9's tournament, which will pitch them against many national division and foreign exile sides. Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul LeMarquand, 2 Alex Stratton-Thomsett, 3 Joel Barrett, 4 Peter Smith, 5 Dave West, 6 Peter Le Marquand, 7 Adam Cook, 8 Mike Reeves, 9 Dave Signor, 10 Dan Garbutt, 11 Darryl Walters, 12 Richard Burton, 13 Andy Windridge, 14 Paul Edmondson, 15 Nick Woodland, 16 Paul Partrick, 17 Lee Elliston, Scorers: Tries: Adam Cook 3, Mike Reeves 2, Joel Barrett, Dave West. Conversions : Peter LeMarquand 7 from 7 plus 1 drop goal. Reporter: Kevin Cook