Old Brodleians 18 North Ribblesdale 10

NORTH Ribblesdale were made to pay for a sloppy start as the Yorkshire One relegation trapdoor opened a little wider.

This was viewed as a winnable game, but the visitors were staring defeat in the face one they conceded three easy tries in the first 15 minutes.

Ribb then came back into the game but for some inexplicable reason turned down five kicks at goal – three that were very easy for a kicker like Mick Thwaite– in favour of putting the ball in the corner from which they got no reward.

After a slow start the pack got the better of their opponents but Brods had a good midfield defence and marshalled the threat from Ryan Sumner well.

Sumner wasn't helped by the turgid ball he received and Ribb's try from Jonny Moore was too late to save the game.

Unusually for Hipperholme, the strong wind blew up the pitch, so the slope was not as big an advantage as normal.

Brods made light of playing into the wind and scored after two minutes when Zac Johnson pounced Ribb spilled a simple kick.

They scored again after five minutes on the left through full back Benny Pritchett and scored a third after 15 minutes from Rob Jennings.

It looked like Ribb were in for a hiding, but after the third try they started to play.

Adam Middleton plucked the kick-off out of the air and started a spell of Ribb dominance which saw them go close to scoring.

Both Mick Carr and Sumner went close but were kept at bay by desperate defence.

After squandering five penalties by kicking to touch, Ribb finally opted to go for goal and Thwaite registered their first three points.

The second half saw Ribb marginally on top with Carr and Middleton to the fore.

Andrew Thwaite had his usual hard-working game and the front row were secure.

Ribb's main problem was that they could only throw front ball at the line-out with certainty due to the wind and this limited their attacking options.

They could not get the ball wide and had to use Sumner a great deal, but the Brods midfield marshalled him well.

Ribb's try came via a half break close to the line by Mick Thwaite with Moore crashing over to reduce the deficit to 15-10.

The final score of the game was a Brods penalty which denied Ribb of a losing bonus point.

After losing a winnable game Ribb now face tough challenges against Beverley away and Scarborough at home before meeting fellow strugglers Wheatley Hills at Grove Park.

The absence of key players continues to hurt Ribb as they fight for their Yorkshire One lives.