Ribb on a roll as they lower Dinnington colours (From Craven Herald)

Ribb on a roll as they lower Dinnington colours

2:23pm Thursday 30th October 2008 in Sport By Sportsdesk

North Ribblesdale 20 Dinnington 9

North Ribblesdale are on a roll. After turning over Glossop they lowered the colours of unbeaten Dinnington.This was a good performance in which Ribb’s ability to win first phase ball was crucial.

Gordon Throup, the scrum and line-out coach, is central to Ribb’s recent good form.

Conditions suited Ribb with a stiff wind and occasional heavy rain but the manner of their win was emphatic.

Although there was a forward pass in Ribb’s first-half try David Fox’s second-half try into the wind was a crucial score meaning Dinnington needed to score tries rather than use the metronomic boot of Dean Lax to win.

Losing the toss and playing into the wind was not a good omen as Ribb are not usually quick out of the blocks but they started strongly against the best pack seen at Grove Park this season.

Keeping Dinnington penned into their own half for the first 20 minutes allowed Mick Richards to kick two penalties.

The best move of the match came from a break out of his own 22 by Fox who handed on to James Dugdale whose surging run took him to halfway.

Caught he passed out of the tackle to Mick Carr who still had a lot to do.

Heading for the corner he was being caught by the full-back but stepped inside to go under the posts for an easy conversion.

Dinnington came back hard and it took determined defence by the midfield of Richards, Ben Topham and Simon Bolland to keep Dinnington out. Ribb’s edge in scrum and line-out was critical.

Although there were opportunities Dinnington prevented another score and seemed relatively happy at 13-0 with the second-half wind in their favour. Their optimism seemed justified when Ribb had two moments of madness giving away penalties in their own half Lax didn’t kick in the Premiership for nothing and he comfortably put away two difficult chances.

Dinnington were confident now and mounted a serious assault which was repulsed by the stiff home defence and pressure was eased by accomplished kicking from Richards and Fox.

They were however playing in their own half and needed relief which came from their pick and drive game allowing them to keep the ball for long period.

The decisive score came from a drive into Dinnington’s half and a high kick from Richards which was put down. Ribb won a penalty and put the ball into the corner.

The chance seemed to have gone when the ball was knocked on but Dinnington’s scrum under pressure gave slow ball, a hurried pass was dropped and Fox pounced to score. Richards converted with a fine kick from wide out.There was still 15 minutes to go and Dinnington tore into Ribb but they could not break the defence down and the whole team scented a win. Dinnington won three penalties but had to run the ball as they needed five penalties to win which was unlikely.

In the end Ribb comfortably held out for the fourth win in a row. The unsung heroes were the front five with the Newhouse brothers both having big matches.

The front row was solid and the back row workrate was good. The Man-of-the-Match was difficult to decide as Dugdale had a fine game, Fox was at his best and Richards goal and tactical kicking was exemplary.

Away to Castleford will not be easy this Saturday and there is no room for complacency on the pitch or in training. Selection will be difficult and some good players cannot get into the side but it is a long season and there will be chances.