North Ribblesdale show their power (From Craven Herald)

Ribb overcome Heath

12:59pm Sunday 20th September 2009 in Sport By Andrew Mills

Hessle 3 North Ribblesdale 16

They’re big but they’ll blow up was the comment of one Hessle spectator when Ribb ran out. He was wrong, Ribb’s big men, Adam Stubbs and Alan and Graham Newhouse lasted the pace better than several of the home pack, despite the hot day and hard pitch.

Against a stubborn defence and hard running forwards Ribb worked hard to wear down a tenacious side who, though lacking in imagination, came at Ribb hard all day.

Hessle have an attractive ground almost under the Humber Bridge and a very firm pitch and as to be expected from a rugby league town they ran hard and tackled well .

Despite Ribb being the better side for most of the game they kept in contention until the last 15 minutes when Steven Moon kicked his last penalty to put Ribb beyond their reach.

This allowed Elliot Sharp to give Ribb’s two most promising tight forwards, Richard Lynn and Matthew Knowles, their first taste of senior rugby. It will be the first of many.

Knowles completed the job Graham Newhouse had done on the home tight head prop and Lynn showed impressive mobility. Ribb displayed a good all round performance but the star of the show was Steven Moon with a haul of 16 points from a converted try and three penalties .

Starting facing the sun Ribb attacked early with Moon putting the home full-back under serious pressure. The chasing was of a high order all day, with Simon Bolland and Simon Spensley in energetic form, however, a bit against the run of play Hessle took first blood with a 40 yard penalty for off-side.

Ribb were at the time pressing but a turnover saw the home ten make ground and quick ball caught the Ribb midfield off-side. From the kick-off Ribb put a lot of pressure on and Moon had a shot at goal which slid past the post.

He was, however ,on target with another to level the score. Hessle came back and Ribb were forced to defend hard as the home ten brought the ball back to his big forwards.

They got through once and their No 8 was looking for the line, only to be chainsawed by Simon Chapman with a full blooded head on tackle.

After this spell Hessle only threatened spasmodically. Ribb came away from their own line and a good break by Bolland took play into the home 22 with Moon deservedly getting the touchdown, which he converted with a fine kick.

Ribb were away again from the re-start after a dominating run from Ryan Kirkbride. The ball moved right through the centres and Spensley was only just held to prevent a score.

Ribb took play to the home line and were denied a pushover by a collapsed scrum, which brought a yellow card for the home scrum-half. Ribb tend to overdo the pushover option but on this occasion, against a seven man pack, they took the right decision but could not get over.

At half-time Ribb were in a comfortable, if not secure position. They had enough ball to have scored more but were visibly becoming the dominant side and their defence never looked like conceding a try.

More fluent handling in midfield may have brought the wings into play and created wide quick ball but it is hard to criticise a strong performance and a seven point lead.

Hessle’s second-half approach was more damage limitation than an attempt to win the game. The ball seldom passed ten, with forwards taking the ball up, but Ribb had to defend hard.

The home pack did tire, but not until the last quarter, and though they were in the end dominated they made things difficult for Ribb who, despite a lot of set piece ball, could not create a decisive breakthrough against an obdurate defence.

They held the ball for long periods and did gain ground but as soon as David Fox and Moon got the ball they cleared with long kicks. The half-backs out of hand kicking was a feature of the game, both regularly gained over 50 metres. Mickey Richards, on at full-back, took a fine catch under pressure to relieve Hessle’s last attack and from that point the match was over.

Hessle never threatened again. Moon sealed the game with another penalty putting Ribb two scores ahead. More fluency would have seen more tries. Ribb were not short of possession or position and were visibly superior in pace but a number of forward passes and midfield indecision, coupled with stern defence, prevented a further try.

This was a good away win against a stiff defence in which fitness counted a lot. Ribb have had a good pre-season and it showed. Moon had another fine game and Fox played well against a tenacious young opposite number.

There was an early season lack of cohesion and it’s true to say that Ribb did not sparkle but it is was an away win against limited but competetive opposition.

Ribb are a good side, and though there are a number of players coming into contention they will not walk into the team, which in its defensive organisation and fitness is a credit to Elliot Sharp and Jonny Walker.

Their major problem is selection and player rotation. The players need to support this so that Ribb have two strong teams and a cohesive squad system.