With an automatic place in the eastern division final and an extra rest week as a prize to the winners, this was a hard-fought defensive game.

Each side pounded the other's defences through the centre of the park with few opportunities for the wide fast men.

In an even first half, Skolars generally made more ground in their tackle sets and deserved their narrow lead at the break.

However, as in the teams' first meeting a month ago, Ipswich regrouped at half-time and kept Skolars in their own half for long spells.

The Skolars opened the scoring after only four minutes with a two-man overlap on the left wing and Ade Aderiye ran round the Ipswich defence to score an unconverted try.

Then, on eight minutes, Dan Gordon penalised Ipswich for missing tackles when he scored from 30 metres and converted his own try to make the score 10-0 to Skolars.

On ten minutes, Skolars conceded a penalty on their 20-metre line from which David Gawne drove into Skolars defenders but was held up on the line.

Ipswich completed a fast set moving across the pitch until the on last tackle Mike Reeves switched direction and split the defence to score under the posts.

From the restart Ipswich contained North London in their own half and played out their own set just in the Skolars' half.

Then, on the last tackle, Peter LeMarquand planted a high kick deep into the corner beyond the try line.

Two Skolar defenders hesitated as the ball bobbled awkwardly and Mike Field nipped between them and scored.

Peter LeMarquand converted both tries to make the score 12-10 to the Rhinos.

On 19 minutes, North London regained the lead when an attempted interception under the Rhinos posts reset their tackle count and, after several attackers had been held on the line, Huy Le finally powered his way over to score.

Gordon converted to restore Skolars' lead at 16-12.

Skolars then conceded a penalty on their 20-metre line.

Ipswich scrum-half Adam Cook, on the fourth tackle, side-stepped his marker and cut in between the posts.

Peter LeMarquand converted to make the score 18-16.

On 36 minutes, Ipswich conceded a needless penalty for dropping on a player after the tackle had been called and Skolars scored a try and conversion from Dan Gordon to take the lead at half-time 22-18.

Ipswich introduced the influential Nick Woodland at half-time.

On 61 minutes, Skolar Ade Aderiye conceded a penalty on 30 metres and was yellow-carded for holding down the player after the tackle.

From the resulting set Ipswich made the Skolars try-line but could not break through until the last tackle when Nick Woodland scooted over from two metres. Peter LeMarquand converted to retake the lead at 24-22.

On 71 minutes, Skolars knocked on in the middle of the Rhinos half and from the resulting scrum Mike Reeves broke from the base of the scrum and sprinted to score under the posts from 70 metres.

Peter LeMarquand converted to make the final score 30-22 to the Rhinos.

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