2:31pm Sunday 24th January 2010
By Andrew Mills
Despite a fine game from Ryan Kirkbride North Ribblesdale went down to a feisty Ripon side who, after loose head prop Graham Newhouse was substituted, dominated the tight.
All the points came from penalties which makes it sound a dour affair but this game was anything but.
Ribb started brightly after the kick-off by Ripon was called back for a scrum.
Ribb won the ball and crisp passing put Simon Spensley away and he made ground into the Ripon half.
Ribb lost the ball at the breakdown and Ripon in turn moved the ball wide.
The middle of the pitch was very heavy and both sides worked out that kicking was the most beneficial tactic.
Ripon’s kicking game was marginally better and after penning Ribb into their own 22 the home stand-off kicked a fine penalty.
Ribb came back and were soon in the home half, courtesy of a good run by the most penetrative back on the park Simon Bolland.
Ripon spent long periods in the Ribb half but well-organised defence kept them out.
Ripon missed two penalty chances and were marginally dominant but Kirkbride burst away from a retreating scrum and made 50 metres before handing on to Spensley, who was caught by last ditch defence. At half-time Ribb were 3-0 with all to play for.
The second-half was similar with Ribb doing most of the pressing and their kicking game made ground but too many players were ball watching and pressure was not applied. Ribb need to think about their kicking game.
The big change came with the substitution of Newhouse. Although Ripon are traditionally strong up front Ribb had held their own but this all changed and Ribb hardly won a clean ball after that, although Matthew Knowles came on and stiffened things up.
The lost position allowed Ripon’s ten to kick two further goals. However, 9-3 is only one converted try away from a win but in the latter part of the game Ribb played as though they needed two or three scores, not one.
They started running the ball from deep losing valuable possession. The half- time tactic of kicking deep and chasing was forgotten. For elusive runners like Moimoi, Fox and Moon the conditions were awful. A tactical error changed the game and the players lost concentration.
Ripon’s goal kicker missed a couple of chances and it could have been worse but while Ribb may not have won, a better kicking and chasing game in the heavy conditions would have put far more pressure on Ripon.
However disappointing this is Ripon are doughty opponents and it is no disgrace to lose away in a tight game. Ribb must adapt their game, losing scrum ball means you have to work a lot harder in the loose and not spurn chances.
There are several sides who will be in the mix at the end of the season, no-one is going to romp this tight leagu.
The side that can adapt has a better than average chance.
Ribb, used to scrum dominance, waste ball when it should be treasured and used with precision.
Ribb have splendid finishers in Topham, Spensley, the excellent Bolland and Chapman and they need to bring them in to play more often.
The second team game was cancelled.
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