Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

...MATCH REPORT...

2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE

19 June 2004

RHINOS WIN VITAL MATCH OVER RIVALS

Ipswich Rhinos 24 - 20 North London Skolars

With both sides unbeaten this season, and only due to meet once in the league, many believed this game could decide the Eastern division title. However, an error ridden first half failed to live up to the games star billing and in a game that could have gone either way the Skolars took a slender lead into the break. But Ipswich regrouped at half time and over turned the deficit for a deserved win. Ipswich could not have had a better start. The Skolars knocked on in their first set to give Ipswich a scrum on half way. On the fourth tackle Mike Fields broke through the Skolars defence to score from 40 yards. The try converted by Peter LeMarquand to give the Rhinos a two-minute lead. However the early try failed to settle the Rhinos nerves and the Skolars capitalised on early errors for Brian Henry to score two unconverted tries to bring the score back to 6-8. The first after only four minutes when he collected the ball from a knock on and forced his way over the Ipswich line, and a second from the restart when Ipswich conceded a penalty on their 20 yard line and Henry again showed great power in pushing through the defenders to score.

With neither side dominating the score swung back in Ipswich's favour on thirteen minutes. The Skolars conceded ground giving away two penalties in quick succession. From the second a good cross-field move set up Lee Elliston who broke through his tacklers to score an unconverted try from close range. However, it was the Skolars who finished the half more confidently. Keir Bell drove over for a try on 30 minutes after a spell of Skolars pressure and on 35 minutes a good cross field passage of play from Skolars found men free on the overlap and Neil Foster scored in the corner. The tries gave the Skolars a 16-10 lead at half time, but their failure to kick any conversions was to prove costly.

Ipswich rethought their game plan at half time and put the Skolars under pressure for long spells in the second half by off loading and passing when possible, instead of running into the Skolars defenders. Within three minutes of the restart Tane Trafford threaded his way through the Skolars defence to score from 20 yards and then scored an almost identical try on14 minutes after Mike Fields set him on his way after gathering a loose ball from a Skolars knock on. Peter LeMarquand converting to make the score 20-16 to the Rhinos. It was not until the final quarter of the game the Skolars enjoyed a spell of pressure in the Rhinos half and on 50 minutes they spread the ball wide to Ade Aderiye who ran round the Ipswich defence for an unconverted try, but Ipswich didn't panic and with five minutes left scored the best try of the day. Mike fields broke out of defence on the second tackle deep into the Skolars half where the rest of the set was played out within the Skolars 20-yard area. On the fifth tackle a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from Peter LeMarquand found Dave West on the far touchline to step over for the winning try.

ABOVE: The victorious Rhinos team vs North London

The result means that Ipswich now top the Eastern Division having trailed London Skolars on points difference all season. Next Week they must travel to Hemel Stags and can not afford to relax knowing The Skolars will be on their heels all the way.

Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul "Geordie" Raw 2 David West 3 Joel Barrett 4 Mike Fields 5 Nick "Woody" Woodland 6 Peter Le Marquand 7 Tane Trafford 8 Andy Wilson 9 Dave Signor 10 Lee Elliston 11 Richard Burton 12 Daryl Walters 13 Andy Windridge 14 David Gawne 15 Adam Cook 16 Steve Haycock 17 Alex Statton-Thomsett

Scores:
Tries: West, Fields 2, Trafford 2
Conversions : Peter LeMarquand 2 from 5

Reporter: Kevin Cook


	...MATCH REPORT... 2004 TOTALRL.COM RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 19 June 2004 RHINOS WIN VITAL MATCH OVER RIVALS Ipswich Rhinos 24 - 20 North London Skolars With both sides unbeaten this season, and only due to meet once in the league, many believed this game could decide the Eastern division title. However, an error ridden first half failed to live up to the games star billing and in a game that could have gone either way the Skolars took a slender lead into the break. But Ipswich regrouped at half time and over turned the deficit for a deserved win. Ipswich could not have had a better start. The Skolars knocked on in their first set to give Ipswich a scrum on half way. On the fourth tackle Mike Fields broke through the Skolars defence to score from 40 yards. The try converted by Peter LeMarquand to give the Rhinos a two-minute lead. However the early try failed to settle the Rhinos nerves and the Skolars capitalised on early errors for Brian Henry to score two unconverted tries to bring the score back to 6-8. The first after only four minutes when he collected the ball from a knock on and forced his way over the Ipswich line, and a second from the restart when Ipswich conceded a penalty on their 20 yard line and Henry again showed great power in pushing through the defenders to score. With neither side dominating the score swung back in Ipswich's favour on thirteen minutes. The Skolars conceded ground giving away two penalties in quick succession. From the second a good cross-field move set up Lee Elliston who broke through his tacklers to score an unconverted try from close range. However, it was the Skolars who finished the half more confidently. Keir Bell drove over for a try on 30 minutes after a spell of Skolars pressure and on 35 minutes a good cross field passage of play from Skolars found men free on the overlap and Neil Foster scored in the corner. The tries gave the Skolars a 16-10 lead at half time, but their failure to kick any conversions was to prove costly. Ipswich rethought their game plan at half time and put the Skolars under pressure for long spells in the second half by off loading and passing when possible, instead of running into the Skolars defenders. Within three minutes of the restart Tane Trafford threaded his way through the Skolars defence to score from 20 yards and then scored an almost identical try on14 minutes after Mike Fields set him on his way after gathering a loose ball from a Skolars knock on. Peter LeMarquand converting to make the score 20-16 to the Rhinos. It was not until the final quarter of the game the Skolars enjoyed a spell of pressure in the Rhinos half and on 50 minutes they spread the ball wide to Ade Aderiye who ran round the Ipswich defence for an unconverted try, but Ipswich didn't panic and with five minutes left scored the best try of the day. Mike fields broke out of defence on the second tackle deep into the Skolars half where the rest of the set was played out within the Skolars 20-yard area. On the fifth tackle a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from Peter LeMarquand found Dave West on the far touchline to step over for the winning try. ABOVE: The victorious Rhinos team vs North London The result means that Ipswich now top the Eastern Division having trailed London Skolars on points difference all season. Next Week they must travel to Hemel Stags and can not afford to relax knowing The Skolars will be on their heels all the way. Ipswich Rhinos: 1 Paul "Geordie" Raw 2 David West 3 Joel Barrett 4 Mike Fields 5 Nick "Woody" Woodland 6 Peter Le Marquand 7 Tane Trafford 8 Andy Wilson 9 Dave Signor 10 Lee Elliston 11 Richard Burton 12 Daryl Walters 13 Andy Windridge 14 David Gawne 15 Adam Cook 16 Steve Haycock 17 Alex Statton-Thomsett Scores: Tries: West, Fields 2, Trafford 2 Conversions : Peter LeMarquand 2 from 5 Reporter: Kevin Cook