Bridlington coast to victory over North Ribblesdale (From Craven Herald)

Bridlington coast to victory over North Ribblesdale

8:55am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Sport

Bridlington 34 North Ribblesdale 3

North Ribblesdale made the long trek East to face league leaders Bridlington and were under the cosh from the start.

The Dukes Park outfit play a fast expansive brand of rugby keeping the ball alive at every opportunity.

Only resolute defence from Stephen Moon and Ryan Kirkbride held them at bay in the early stages.

The Ribb scrum was in the ascendancy but that was the only plus side in a torrid opening ten minutes.

Bridlington applied severe pressure on the North Ribblesdale line.

After 20 minutes they had scored a penalty and two converted tries through winger Dave Scott and full back Dean Holden for a convincing 17-0 lead.

Ribb’s pack, as is their style, clung on and in the ten minutes before the interval had their best spell of the half but only had one penalty kick by William Davidson to show for it at the break.

Undeterred Ribb took the game to Bridlington. Against the run of play a dropped pass was seized on and an unconverted try was scored by lively scrum half Adrian Pickles.

Back came Ribb again and after some forward pick and with drives led by Rob Corner, Jack Davidson, Adam Stubbs, and the hard-working Kirkbride, they pressured the home line.

From an ensuing catch and drive a Brid player was binned for killing the ball, swiftly followed by another for the same offence.

The Ribb pack smelt blood and went for the jugular opting for a scrum ten metres out.

As they drove to the line a Bridlington player hoofed the ball out of the scrum downfield. Inexplicably, play was allowed to continue and the chance had gone.

This seemed to deflate Ribb and as the match came to a conclusion Bridlington scored two more tries to complete the scoring.

With the imminent departure of Simon Bolland, Stephen Moon and Jack Davidson on global adventures Ribb will need all their spirit and resolve ensure survival in the league.

This Saturday Ribb face big-spending York at home