The Ipswich Rhinos have benefited from Portsmouth's misfortune

The Ipswich Rhinos have been handed a play-off lifeline after rivals Portsmouth Seahawks were docked two points by the Rugby Football League.

Portsmouth were penalised for failing to raise a team for their final fixture, promoting the Rhinos to third place in the Premier South Division.

Ipswich will face South London Storm in the eliminator of the second and third-placed sides on 9 August.

The winners will play West London for the divisional title.

Ipswich Rhinos chairman Kevin Cook admits his team have been fortunate but believes they are in the play-offs on merit.

He said: "We have travelled over 1500 miles already to fulfil our fixtures this season, on several occasions with an under-strength side due to injuries, but have never defaulted on a game and have had some cracking games against the other top teams.

"If you compare the resources of the two top clubs in the division it is a tremendous achievement for a team like the Rhinos to remain consistently competitive against such teams at all, let alone making the play-offs."