Ipswich Rhinos Rugby League Club

Ipswich vs St Albans 22nd July 2000

Ipswich 34 - 20 St Albans

IPSWICH END SEASON IN STYLE WITH TOP CLASS PERFORMANCE

Ipswich outplayed their higher placed opponents to finish the season in grand style. Coach Steve Sudlow was given the perfect send off in his last Conference match in charge. Glyn Thomas scored two second half tries to bring his season`s tally to 13. Thomas will be recommended by Ipswich for Selection for the National Rugby League Conference representative fixtures with the Armed Forces in September along with Adam Welch, Richard Pollard and Paul Thurston.

In a match played in front of Club Sponsors Bellway Homes Ipswich turned in a high quality performance to make it four home wins in a row. St Albans came into the game needing a handsome win and South Norfolk to lose heavily at Hemel to progress into the end of season play offs. Ipswich Rhinos in fine form in recent weeks were determined to prove their quality with a settled squad of young players who had stuck together through the entire season.

Before the main match Ipswich`s youth development scheme came to fruition when the under 13 players made their home debut against the St Albans youngsters. In an entertaining match the Ipswich players of the future narrowly lost 18-22. Ipswich went behind in the senior match to a fifth minute try when St Albans exploited an overlap to score in the corner. Dave Muff was penalised for a late tackle three minutes later and Ross Mitchell goaled to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.

Adam Welch was captaining the side at hooker in his last game before returning home to Australia. Ipswich were back in the game at 6-6 when Paul Thurston took a quick tap penalty and was held up on the line. Welch drove on before Thurston got up to follow through and power over for the try. Pete Le Marquand added the conversion. St Albans just two points behind South Norfolk, harbouring faint ambitions of making the play offs by recording a good win at Ipswich, were being outplayed by an Ipswich side keen to show their late season improvement. With Welch calling the shots at dummy half the Ipswich forwards were dominating proceedings providing plenty of ball for a fast back line.

Ipswich stamped their authority on the game when from a good spell of possession and a long range break by full back Tony Skurr, the ball was pushed out to the wing and Andy Windrige was on hand to round his man and ground the ball for a try. His teammates and the spectators were relived as he had been held up in the tackle when over the line the previous week against Kingston. Following the loss of influential scrum half Thurston with an ankle injury, Lee Birch came on for his first appearance after a two month absence. The dependable Pete Le Marquand calmy slotted over a penalty goal from 20 metres out after an infringement at the play the ball, before giant second rower Adam Menz finished off a high quality move involving fast hands between Adam Welch and Steve Gleeson to give Ipswich a 16-6 lead at half time.

Ipswich took control straight from the restart kick when St Albans spilled the ball under pressure and Ipswich went through the tackles before a reverse pass put Paul Le Marquand into space for a try converted by brother Pete. Ipswich continued to pile on the pressure and resisting the temptation to kick on the fifth tackle Welch applied the power play sending the defence the wrong way releasing Thomas for his twelfth try of the season. Thomas underlined his class fielding the restart kick and charging upfield breaking two tackles for a spectacular eighty metre try to complete his brace.

Ipswich completed their scoring when back rower Stuart Bradshaw latched on to Welch`s tap penalty shrugging off three tacklers before wriggling his way over to score. The tireless Lee Haylock had worked like a trojan in attack and defence and came very close to earning a deserved try. Ipswich having pursued their opponents relentlessly were assured victory with a big lead and St Albans took the opportunity to stage a late flurry with an 90 metre interception try by Barry Wainwright after an Ipswich move had broken down. Two more scores from loose forward Raoul Simons and Sub Nick Bullen saw the visitors finish strongly.

News filtered through from the touchline that South Norfolk had lost by one point at Hemel Hempstead but with St Albans unable to overcome a determined Ipswich side, South Norfolk go on to next weekends play offs, the disappointment was etched on the visitors faces. The result meant Ipswich had beaten every side in the division at home except Champions Hemel. Plans are already being made for next year`s Campaign including the building of an elite squad set to include most of this years successful team, ongoing youth and Schools Rugby development and the search for a replacement for the outgoing Club Coach Steve Sudlow.

IPSWICH: Tony Skurr, Paul Le Marquand, Dave Flaherty, Glynn Thomas, Andy Windridge, Pete Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Lee Haylock, Adam Welch, Andy Wilson, Stu Bradshaw, Steve Gleeson, Dave Muff.
Subs: Lee Birch, Adrian Evans, Adam Menz.


	Ipswich vs St Albans 22nd July 2000 Ipswich 34 - 20 St Albans IPSWICH END SEASON IN STYLE WITH TOP CLASS PERFORMANCE Ipswich outplayed their higher placed opponents to finish the season in grand style. Coach Steve Sudlow was given the perfect send off in his last Conference match in charge. Glyn Thomas scored two second half tries to bring his season`s tally to 13. Thomas will be recommended by Ipswich for Selection for the National Rugby League Conference representative fixtures with the Armed Forces in September along with Adam Welch, Richard Pollard and Paul Thurston. In a match played in front of Club Sponsors Bellway Homes Ipswich turned in a high quality performance to make it four home wins in a row. St Albans came into the game needing a handsome win and South Norfolk to lose heavily at Hemel to progress into the end of season play offs. Ipswich Rhinos in fine form in recent weeks were determined to prove their quality with a settled squad of young players who had stuck together through the entire season. Before the main match Ipswich`s youth development scheme came to fruition when the under 13 players made their home debut against the St Albans youngsters. In an entertaining match the Ipswich players of the future narrowly lost 18-22. Ipswich went behind in the senior match to a fifth minute try when St Albans exploited an overlap to score in the corner. Dave Muff was penalised for a late tackle three minutes later and Ross Mitchell goaled to give the visitors a 6-0 lead. Adam Welch was captaining the side at hooker in his last game before returning home to Australia. Ipswich were back in the game at 6-6 when Paul Thurston took a quick tap penalty and was held up on the line. Welch drove on before Thurston got up to follow through and power over for the try. Pete Le Marquand added the conversion. St Albans just two points behind South Norfolk, harbouring faint ambitions of making the play offs by recording a good win at Ipswich, were being outplayed by an Ipswich side keen to show their late season improvement. With Welch calling the shots at dummy half the Ipswich forwards were dominating proceedings providing plenty of ball for a fast back line. Ipswich stamped their authority on the game when from a good spell of possession and a long range break by full back Tony Skurr, the ball was pushed out to the wing and Andy Windrige was on hand to round his man and ground the ball for a try. His teammates and the spectators were relived as he had been held up in the tackle when over the line the previous week against Kingston. Following the loss of influential scrum half Thurston with an ankle injury, Lee Birch came on for his first appearance after a two month absence. The dependable Pete Le Marquand calmy slotted over a penalty goal from 20 metres out after an infringement at the play the ball, before giant second rower Adam Menz finished off a high quality move involving fast hands between Adam Welch and Steve Gleeson to give Ipswich a 16-6 lead at half time. Ipswich took control straight from the restart kick when St Albans spilled the ball under pressure and Ipswich went through the tackles before a reverse pass put Paul Le Marquand into space for a try converted by brother Pete. Ipswich continued to pile on the pressure and resisting the temptation to kick on the fifth tackle Welch applied the power play sending the defence the wrong way releasing Thomas for his twelfth try of the season. Thomas underlined his class fielding the restart kick and charging upfield breaking two tackles for a spectacular eighty metre try to complete his brace. Ipswich completed their scoring when back rower Stuart Bradshaw latched on to Welch`s tap penalty shrugging off three tacklers before wriggling his way over to score. The tireless Lee Haylock had worked like a trojan in attack and defence and came very close to earning a deserved try. Ipswich having pursued their opponents relentlessly were assured victory with a big lead and St Albans took the opportunity to stage a late flurry with an 90 metre interception try by Barry Wainwright after an Ipswich move had broken down. Two more scores from loose forward Raoul Simons and Sub Nick Bullen saw the visitors finish strongly. News filtered through from the touchline that South Norfolk had lost by one point at Hemel Hempstead but with St Albans unable to overcome a determined Ipswich side, South Norfolk go on to next weekends play offs, the disappointment was etched on the visitors faces. The result meant Ipswich had beaten every side in the division at home except Champions Hemel. Plans are already being made for next year`s Campaign including the building of an elite squad set to include most of this years successful team, ongoing youth and Schools Rugby development and the search for a replacement for the outgoing Club Coach Steve Sudlow. IPSWICH: Tony Skurr, Paul Le Marquand, Dave Flaherty, Glynn Thomas, Andy Windridge, Pete Le Marquand, Paul Thurston, Lee Haylock, Adam Welch, Andy Wilson, Stu Bradshaw, Steve Gleeson, Dave Muff. Subs: Lee Birch, Adrian Evans, Adam Menz.