Match Report

Broadstairs 30-22 Ipswich II 

02/07/05 (Courtesy of Broadstairs Bulldogs)

 

This was a top of the table clash with Broadstairs currently on top. The two sides had never played each other, but results had shown this would be a tight hard fought game.

 

Broadstairs went out hard from the whistle as had worked for them on their previous game against Kent Ravens. The opening points again came from kicker Tom Longdon who gave the Bulldogs two points from a penalty 40 metres out. This shocked Ipswich, who replied by putting increasing pressure on the Bulldogs back line, with high balls on the last tackle. Broadstairs did not deal with them and Ipswich ran through to score the first try under the posts.

 

Having worked hard on their defence the Bulldogs were very disappointed, this showed as they came out all guns blazing from the kick off. Great running from both Rob Marks and Tom Harvey put Broadstairs back on the front foot. This resulted in Stuart Plumridge scoring the opening try for the local team. After the conversion by Tom Longdon the lead didn’t last long as the inability to deal with the up and under resulted in another try for the travelling team. This put the Rhinos 12-8 up with only a few minutes to go of the first half.

 

The game plan changed for Broadstairs as they went back to basics, the use of the big forwards for their first three tackles started to pay dividends as Ipswich notably tired. This gave Tom Harvey his first try for the club, breaking two tackle to score on the stroke of half time. Broadstairs went in 14-12 up.

 

Harsh words were spoken at half time and a change in personnel showed Broadstairs were not going to throw this game away. Broadstairs received the kick and Tim McLaughlin made ground attacking the Rhinos flat defence.

 

Broadstairs increased the pace of the game and started to release the backs who had done so well last week. John Bell and Michael Simmonds in the centres took the ball up to release the pace men Mark Cooper, Richard Smith and John Ball, John back after 5 weeks after a nasty concussion. John Ball took the next opportunity to score and put Broadstairs 20-12 up with Tom Longdon’s conversion. Ipswich didn’t seem to have any answer as Broadstairs took control. The forwards defence was massive and the whole team have proved all season that attack is no problem. More forward running created space on the right for Thanet Wanderers old boy Elliot Stokes to score in the corner on his debut.

 

Ipswich tried their best to get back into the game, managing to get one score back, but their efforts were thwarted by great tackling, and a miscount on their tackles. They turned the ball over and after one crash ball the ball went down the Broadstairs line to Richard Smith who ran the length of the field to score. This gave the Bulldogs a 30-18 advantage.

 

Although, Ipswich again broke the Bulldogs line they were not going to beat the league leaders. Broadstairs upped the intensity in defence and kept the Rhinos within their own half. The game finished 30-22.