Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

3 July 2004

RHINOS TAKE DIVISION TITLE

Ipswich Rhinos 90 - 6 Middlesex Lions

Ipswich Rhinos are the TOTALrl.com 2004 Eastern Division Champions. Saturdays comprehensive defeat of Middlesex Lions was their 9th consecutive win of the season, which, with North London Skolars losing to South Norfolk Saints, means no team can catch them irrespective of next weeks result at Luton Vipers. Credit to the Lions who made the long journey to Ipswich with an under strength side rather than concede and all put in 110% effort, but even with three Rhinos in their ranks Middlesex were out played from the start. Consequently the game was played in a practice match atmosphere and Ipswich failed to find the motivation to really drive home their advantage and should have easily put over the 100 points on the board.

From the start Ipswich moved the ball confidently through the hands to complete the first set with Paul LeMarquand scoring in the corner, and from the restart Darryl Walters seized on a dropped pass and broke deep into Middlesex half before being tackled. From this the ball was spun wide for David West to score making the score 8-0. After 4 minutes Dave Gawne pushed his way over the line to score after the Lions had conceded a penalty close to their line and on 17 minutes Lee Elliston benefited from a Dave Signor run to score wide. In a rare attack on 21 minutes the Lions were awarded a penalty close to the Rhinos line and on the third tackle Hywell Gosling flat footed the defence and stepped through the defensive line to score their only try of the game. Mark Chapman converted to bring the score back to 16-6.

From the restart the Rhinos recovered possession and completed a fluent set with Darryl Walter scoring by the posts and minutes later Lee Elliston made a powerful break before off-loading to Mike Fields on the overlap to score. Elliston scored his second of the day on 36 minutes after a period of sustained pressure and from the restart Brendan Cook split the Lions defence to run a try from within his own half. Then on the last play of the half Joel Barrett score wide with a long break down the left wing. Gusting high winds made kicking near on impossible, even so Peter LeMarquand kick three first half conversions to make the half time score 42-6.

From the restart Middlesex struggled kicking into the high wind and conceded three quick tries with out gaining possession. Dave West collected the ball from the kick off and then ran a full 80 yards down the wing and in under the posts to open the second half scoring. Paul Edmondson made a powerful break in the first set from the second restart to set up Lee Elliston for his hatrick, and from the third restart the Lions conceded a scrum from which Rhinos Loose forward Brendan Cook broke from the back of the pack and shook off early tacklers to score from 60 yards. On 50 minutes Brendan Cook made a cross field run from a penalty drawing the defenders before popping the ball wide to Paul LeMarquand in support to score wide and on 60 minutes Paul LeMarquand scored again after a spell of pressure on the Lions line. Within minutes Adam Cook scored his first of the day with a 20-yard scoot and from the restart Mike Fields collected the kick and ran a full 80 yards to score. Dave West scored the last try of the game on 66 minutes with a break on the wing following a scrum. With the wind behind him Peter LeMarquand converted all second half tries to make the final score 90-6 to the Ipswich Rhinos.

The Rhinos now travel next week to Luton with the objective of finishing the division matches with a 100% record. The Rhinos second team also makes the journey to make the fixture a double header. The Rhinos will however be without Brendan Cook who is named in the England Lionhearts squad to play Ireland in Dublin.

Ipswich Rhinos: Nick Woodland, Mike Fields, Adam Cook, Peter LeMarquand, Andy Wilson, Dave Signor, Richard Burton, Darryl Walters, Andy Windridge, Dave Gawne, Paul LeMarquand, Brendan Cook, Paul Edmondson, Lee Elliston, Alex Stratton-Thomsett, Joel Barrett, Dave West.

Scorers:
Tries: Adam Cook , Brendan Cook 2, Mike Fields 2 , Darryl Walters, David West 3, Paul LeMarquand 3, Lee Elliston 3, Dave Gawne, Joel Barrett.
Conversions: Peter Le Marquand 11 from 17.

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... 2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 3 July 2004 RHINOS TAKE DIVISION TITLE Ipswich Rhinos 90 - 6 Middlesex Lions Ipswich Rhinos are the TOTALrl.com 2004 Eastern Division Champions. Saturdays comprehensive defeat of Middlesex Lions was their 9th consecutive win of the season, which, with North London Skolars losing to South Norfolk Saints, means no team can catch them irrespective of next weeks result at Luton Vipers. Credit to the Lions who made the long journey to Ipswich with an under strength side rather than concede and all put in 110% effort, but even with three Rhinos in their ranks Middlesex were out played from the start. Consequently the game was played in a practice match atmosphere and Ipswich failed to find the motivation to really drive home their advantage and should have easily put over the 100 points on the board. From the start Ipswich moved the ball confidently through the hands to complete the first set with Paul LeMarquand scoring in the corner, and from the restart Darryl Walters seized on a dropped pass and broke deep into Middlesex half before being tackled. From this the ball was spun wide for David West to score making the score 8-0. After 4 minutes Dave Gawne pushed his way over the line to score after the Lions had conceded a penalty close to their line and on 17 minutes Lee Elliston benefited from a Dave Signor run to score wide. In a rare attack on 21 minutes the Lions were awarded a penalty close to the Rhinos line and on the third tackle Hywell Gosling flat footed the defence and stepped through the defensive line to score their only try of the game. Mark Chapman converted to bring the score back to 16-6. From the restart the Rhinos recovered possession and completed a fluent set with Darryl Walter scoring by the posts and minutes later Lee Elliston made a powerful break before off-loading to Mike Fields on the overlap to score. Elliston scored his second of the day on 36 minutes after a period of sustained pressure and from the restart Brendan Cook split the Lions defence to run a try from within his own half. Then on the last play of the half Joel Barrett score wide with a long break down the left wing. Gusting high winds made kicking near on impossible, even so Peter LeMarquand kick three first half conversions to make the half time score 42-6. From the restart Middlesex struggled kicking into the high wind and conceded three quick tries with out gaining possession. Dave West collected the ball from the kick off and then ran a full 80 yards down the wing and in under the posts to open the second half scoring. Paul Edmondson made a powerful break in the first set from the second restart to set up Lee Elliston for his hatrick, and from the third restart the Lions conceded a scrum from which Rhinos Loose forward Brendan Cook broke from the back of the pack and shook off early tacklers to score from 60 yards. On 50 minutes Brendan Cook made a cross field run from a penalty drawing the defenders before popping the ball wide to Paul LeMarquand in support to score wide and on 60 minutes Paul LeMarquand scored again after a spell of pressure on the Lions line. Within minutes Adam Cook scored his first of the day with a 20-yard scoot and from the restart Mike Fields collected the kick and ran a full 80 yards to score. Dave West scored the last try of the game on 66 minutes with a break on the wing following a scrum. With the wind behind him Peter LeMarquand converted all second half tries to make the final score 90-6 to the Ipswich Rhinos. The Rhinos now travel next week to Luton with the objective of finishing the division matches with a 100% record. The Rhinos second team also makes the journey to make the fixture a double header. The Rhinos will however be without Brendan Cook who is named in the England Lionhearts squad to play Ireland in Dublin. Ipswich Rhinos: Nick Woodland, Mike Fields, Adam Cook, Peter LeMarquand, Andy Wilson, Dave Signor, Richard Burton, Darryl Walters, Andy Windridge, Dave Gawne, Paul LeMarquand, Brendan Cook, Paul Edmondson, Lee Elliston, Alex Stratton-Thomsett, Joel Barrett, Dave West. Scorers: Tries: Adam Cook , Brendan Cook 2, Mike Fields 2 , Darryl Walters, David West 3, Paul LeMarquand 3, Lee Elliston 3, Dave Gawne, Joel Barrett. Conversions: Peter Le Marquand 11 from 17. Reporter: Kevin Cook