North Ribblesdale 26 Old Brodleians 25

NORTH Ribblesdale staged a dramatic fightback to snatch victory from a match in which they found themselves 22-0 down after just 30 minutes.

Alex Naylor’s nerveless conversion in the dying minutes sealed their third-successive win, but it still wasn’t enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.

But Ribb have closed right up on the teams immediately above them on an afternoon when the relegation trapdoor appeared to be opening beneath their feet when they made their disastrous start.

With six games to go they are now just two points adrift of Pontefract, three behind Old Brodleians and four back on Wath-upon-Dearne.

The relegation battle is hotting up and Ribb need to make sure they don’t get lured into playing the self-indulgent game that brought about their early problems against Brods.

Maybe there was little over confidence after the 74-20 win over Heath in their previous game. Ribb spent the first hour of the game repeatedly using the crash ball against a resilient Brods pack who dominated Ribb in the loose.

Only late in the game, almost too late, did Ribb use the full potential of their quick back three to win the game.

The tone for the opening stages was set from the start. Michael Thwaite’s floated kick off was secured by Nathan Dakin. It was an opportunity to move the ball wide with the opposition backs lying flat. Instead they chose to drive the ball five times before making an error and losing possession.

Brods, no doubt relieved by the early let off, kicked a penalty into home territory. They called for a five-man line-out and they drove Ribb back 40 metres with their rolling maul to score the first try. Ribb did not even commit all their pack to the maul until it had reached the 22. The conversion put Ribb 7-0 down.

Ribb remained on the back foot and they began conceding penalties which meant the visitors could keep them penned in their own half. Brods took advantage and extended their lead after rumbling over the line from a rolling maul.

The third try was not long in coming. Another penalty pumped into the bottom left corner saw Ribb driven back and the visiting scrum half exploited a gap in the defence to score .

On a brief excursion into the opposition’s half, Ribb were awarded a penalty 40 metres out. Naylor’s well-struck kick drifted just wide of the posts. In contrast, Brods made the most of a penalty to extend their lead to 22-0.

Ribb looked down and out on the scoreboard but they were full of endeavour as they looked to take the game to Brods.

Matt Speres burst over for a try just before half-time which was converted by Naylor. Ribb almost added a second score straight after but didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.

Though 15 points down, Ribb looked confident and appeared to relish the task ahead .There was a slight change of tactics for the second half with Jonny Moore coming on. This changed the point of impact and brought the impressive Dakin more and more into the game as he secured quick ball to give Ribb an attacking platform.

They were moving the ball wider albeit slowly, David Fox showed his pace on the left and Simon Bolland gave his winger some trouble. Ribb’s next try came from a line-out drive which made space for Naylor to dive over for another converted try which put the score at 22-14.

Brods came back for a spell and kicked a penalty to put them 11 points ahead. Ribb however were getting more ascendant as the visiting pack tired .This was helped by Ribb moving the ball wider

The next try was a corker. From a scrum the ball went left and David Fox got outside his man to make 20 yards. Dakin won the loose ball at the breakdown and Ribb moved the ball to full back Adam Whaites.

He made a half break before feeding Bolland who cut inside to score near the posts. Naylor’s conversion cut the deficit to six points with ten minutes to go.

Ribb secured the ball from another good kick off and battered away at the Brods line. The visitors held out and cleared with a penalty. It appeared that Ribb had missed their chance.

But Ribb were in no mood to be denied. A strong run by Moore took play into the Brods 22. The visitors were tiring visibly and were less competitive at the breakdown.

Ribb drove to the posts and Speres scored the final try and Naylor calmly landed the conversion to snatch victory.

The victory was hard-earned and strengthens the belief that Ribb can escape the relegation mire. They have the pack to do the job with the combative Willie Garth and Sam Boatwright leading the way and the backs to give anyone a match – if they work out how to get the ball wide to their dangerous back three.