The Ipswich Rhinos' poor mid-season run of results continued against the Portsmouth Seahawks.

Already forced to reorganise due to injuries and England Lionheart duties, the Rhinos lost scrum half Dan Kerr with a broken nose in the opening minutes and Richard Burton soon followed with a fractured jaw.

The open exchanges were even, with both sides completing their tackle sets until the tenth minute when a penalty close to the Ipswich line allowed the Seahawks to score an unconverted try.

Portsmouth quickly scored a second when their kick struck a post and were first to the rebound to score under the posts to give Wayne Dugan an easy conversion and an early ten-point lead.

However, midway through the first half, the Rhinos, who feature players from Mersea Island and Colchester rugbu clubs, responded with the try of the game.

From a penalty wide on their left they swept the ball the full width of the pitch, with Rod Arbon on the end of an excellent passing move to cross wide on the right.

However, the Navy Seahawks restored their ten-point advantage after the Rhinos knocked on near their own line with minutes to go to half-time.

With the Seahawks conceding a number of penalties in their own 20 metres the Rhinos had the best of the early exchanges in the second half, but basic handling errors or mistakes in the final quarter of the pitch cost them scoring opportunities.

With both regular pivots playing in an England Lionhearts fixture and their replacements sided lined with head injuries, the Rhinos struggled to find the gaps in the Seahawks defence.

Then on 55 minutes, a fast break from the Seahawks set up Matt Smith to power his way over to touch down.

The Rhinos responded quickly, though, when Portsmouth conceded a penalty from which Daryll Walters cut a great angle at unstoppable pace to make the score 18-10.

However, from the restart set, the Rhinos knocked on in the tackle and the ball was collected by Matt Smith, who stepped over the line unchallenged as the Rhinos waited for the whistle for ripping the ball in the tackle.

Then on 70 minutes under similar circumstances James Wagstaff collected a loose ball and stepped his man before off-loading to Matt Smith to score under the posts to make it 30-10.

Walters added a late consolation try for the Rhinos after Nick Faliveno caught out Portsmouth playing the advantage from a knock on to make the final score 30-14.

Portsmouth's win consolidated their second place in the division with a three-point gap over the Rhinos, whose game at 2008 champions St Albans is now a must-win to ensure they stay in the final play-off place.