Wath-Upon-Dearne 15 North Ribblesdale 15

RIBB travelled to South Yorkshire shorn of yet more senior players. Player-coach Matt Speres, Ryan Gill, Sam Boatwright and Simon Bolland were all injured and among the notable absentees from the disappointing defeat to Selby.

Ribb opened brightly and a scoring pass was spurned with the line beckoning and further pressure brought a penalty that was not converted.

Against opponents at least two stone a man heavier, Ribb's young forwards showed commitment by the spadeful with Ethan Henare, Mick Carr, James Tunney and William Thwaite all charging into the home pack.

After 20 minutes a fantastic passage of interplay saw Ribb surge from halfway up to the home ten-yard line where the Impressive Henare was on hand to take scoring pass from veteran prop John Thwaite to give Ribb a 5-0 lead.

More Ribb pressure failed to deliver any points and on a rare foray, Wath were awarded a penalty which was converted by stand-off Barker.

The only other score before the break was a penalty from Stephen Moon who was in commanding form. It gave Ribb an 8-3 interval lead.

The second half was played in a similar style. The home forwards were trying to batter their way to the line only to repelled again and again by Ribb's young guns. Richard Wood made several telling tackles.

After a penalty was kicked to the corner, Henare was sin-binned for entering at the side of the maul. Wath drove to the line and after several thrusts their No 8t Stuart Lines scored to level at 8-8.

Wath began to exert more pressure but Moon saw his chance and intercepted a pass and scampered 60 metres to score and convert to give Ribb a seven-point lead on the hour.

Influential forward Carr went off injured, and with ten minutes to go Wath drove over again for Barker to score a try which he also converted.

Over the last few weeks Ribb may have folded, but not this time. To a man they tackled heroically, fronted up in adversity and comfortably held on as the Wath forwards ran out of steam.

These were Ribb's first points away from home this season and although other results mean they are now propping up Yorkshire One, this wasn't a bottom of the table performance.

With several players due back from injury very soon the selectors will have the sort of problems that they would have wished for since mid September.

This was an all-round team performance but special mention must go to Michael Thwaite for a near faultless full-back performance and young George Carr who defended everything from the wing and a tireless second row effort from James Tunney.

This week Ribb entertain newly-promoted who are going well. A win is a must to get momentum going and continue the improvement and team spirit shown in dark and dismal South Yorkshire.