North Ribblesdale 32 Scarborough 19

NORTH Ribblesdale overcame going 19-0 down in the opening 15 minutes to secure their fifth-straight win and continue their climb away from the Yorkshire One relegation zone.

Once again they showed confidence in their own abilities as they shrugged off the sort of deficit that would stun most sides into submission.

The turnaround in their fortunes was due to the pace they have in their ranks after they had again succumbed to their old weakness of kicking the ball away possession when playing into the wind rather than securing and keeping possession.

Their game management also went a little awry in the second half when kicking would have been a good option when Scarborough were showing signs of a revival.

In the end they needed a piece of good fortune allied to Matt Spere’s tenacity and pace to close out the match.

A home win seemed unlikely when the Seasiders rocked their hosts with three early tries. After nine minutes Tom Ratcliffe made a nice break, putting Graeme Jeffrey through for the first try converted from the touchline by Tom Harrison.

The second try came just a few minutes later when after a series of drive, Wesley Langkilde drove over under the posts and again Harrison converted.

The rugby from Scarborough was delightful and once again after a series of drives, skipper Ratcliffe was released to score in the top corner. This time Harrison just failed to convert.

With the score 19-0 after just 15 minutes it seemed all over for Ribb until David Fox seized a loose kick on his 22.

He showed a nice turn of pace to go 70y yards into the 22 where he found full back Adam Whaites who went in under the posts for a try that was converted by Alex Naylor.

This sparked Ribb into a period of pressure with Mick Carr,Will Garth and Sam Boatwright driving hard at the Scarborough pack.

Quick loose ball was won by the ubiquitous Nathan Dakin as he created room on a wide blind side. Whaites immediately saw the possibility and went hard into the 22 before releasing Simon Bolland who got over the line despite a two-man tackle. The conversion was missed but Ribb had clawed their way back into the game.

They continued to be the dominant force up to half-time as Scarborough, who had Jeffrey yellow carded, clung on to their 19-12 lead.

Ribb started the second half well and scored a text-book try with Whaites making the extra man to put the excellent Bolland over for another try.

With the score at 19-17, Ribb sensed the opportunity and were pressing Scarborough back. Their eagerness caused them to give four penalties away in quick succession.

Scarborough used the kicks to get into the Ribb 22 but Garth and Carr were instrumental in holding the Scarborough maul.

The visitors moved the ball left and Ribb had a monstrous piece of good fortune when an unsighted referee missed a knock on by Speres. He hacked the ball on into the Scarborough half and was close to the line when the covering wing got to the ball first. The referee gave Ribb a five-metre scrum. Twice it went down before Ribb were awarded a penalty try converted by Naylor to put the home side 24-19 up.

Scarborough lost their composure and a rushed pass on the Ribb 22 was intercepted by Fox who went the length of the field to score taking the score. The final minutes were a period of pressure by Ribb, Scarborough’s day was complete when they were awarded a penalty on the twenty two only to have it reversed for dissent. Naylor's successful kick denied Scarborough a bonus point.

Ribb are getting better and better as a side. They now have a potent set of backs to go with a dominant set piece and the predatory Dakin at flanker. Their game management needs to improve but the commitment of their two young half backs is impressive.

The whole team played well and their heads do not go down under pressure. If they keep this form up they must surely avoid relegation particularly with the firmer pitches to come which will suit their speed merchants.