THE Ipswich Rhinos went down 30-18 to the North London Skolars in the Rugby League Conference.The Denny Pryce Rhinos gave themselves a mountain to climb when in a lacklustre first 12 minutes they allowed the Skolars to rack up 18 points.

THE Ipswich Rhinos went down 30-18 to the North London Skolars in the Rugby League Conference.

The Denny Pryce Rhinos gave themselves a mountain to climb when in a lacklustre first 12 minutes they allowed the Skolars to rack up 18 points.

However, they came back to dominate long periods of the game and came within an ace of a heroic comeback only to let the game slip away in the final minutes.

Rhino mistakes and needless penalties gave the Skolars early territorial advantage. In mirror image moves Smokie Junior first scored wide right then Skolars added a second wide left on 10 minutes.

A disastrous attempt at a short restart into the strong wind went straight to a Skolar player who ripped through the Rhinos defence to score a try which was converted by Doug Hann for a 14-0 lead.

This finally shook the Rhinos into action and for the next 25 minutes they pounded the Skolars defence but the Skolars always looked capable of breaking out and in a rare visit into the Rhinos half the Skolars extended their lead to 18-0. The Rhinos maintain their pressure and were finally rewarded for their efforts when after a strong attacking set Paul LeMarquand was under brother Peters high kick, to collect and touch down to make it 8-4 at half time.

With the strong wind now behind them The Rhinos began the second half on the offensive and after only 4 minutes Glyndwr Thomas completed an attacking set by breaking away from his tacklers and touching down from 30 metres.

Minutes later after a good break saw Peter LeMarquand held under the posts and in the resulting attack Brendan Cook crashed over the line from a penalty to bring the Rhinos back into contention at 18-14 down.

Skolars hooker Ben Doyle was then sin binned for foul play.

However the visitors kicked back and Chris Lynton anticipated a Rhinos pass to intercept and race for the posts to give Stuart Hann an easy conversion and restore a ten-point advantage.

Riki Broughton reduced the arrears when he capitalised on a Skolars error to break for the line from 40 metres, but as the game wore on the Ipswich Rhinos started to take risks which the Skolars defence capitalised on to keep the game in the centre of the park.

In the final minute Ben Doyle capitalised on a stray Rhino off load to break through and score under the posts, Doug Hann converting to complete the scoring

Collier and Catchpole Man of the Match: Andrew Windridge.

Try Scorers: Paul LeMarquand, Brendan Cook, Glyndwr Thomas, Riki Broughton.

Conversions: Peter LeMarquand 1 from 4.