Ribb swamped by Wath defence

It appeared that the North Ribblesdale team had arrived in Wath for the start of the monsoon season and this in itself should have decided the tactics for the day.

The pitch, whilst still firm under foot, was greasy on top but thankfully not the swamp that Ribb played on last season.

The visitors were hoping for a result similar to one they achieved on their previous visit where a dominant forward display led to a victory in the mud.

Ribb, with what slight breeze there was behind them, started brightly building good phases with strong carries from Mick Carr, Sam Boatwright and Matt Speres well supported by the remainder of the pack.

Indeed, as it proved throughout the afternoon, the forwards kept carrying the ball until the home defence managed to slow the advance to a standstill before releasing it to the half backs. The forwards need to release the thinking duties to the scrum half and he needs to accept them.

The Wath defence was strong with their forwards and the inside backs making running rugby in these conditions as unrewarding as it was risky. Wath, with the bulkier pack, carried the ball with equal purpose and were met with an equally resolute defence.

It meant the game became a war of attrition.

Ribb were guilty of playing too much rugby in their own half and in the conditions struggled to penetrate the Wath defence.

The home backline, although not able either to break down the Ribb defence, ran with enough purpose to draw two offside penalties from the referee in very kickable positions.

It meant that despite all their determined efforts, Ribb turned round at half-time 6-0 down.

In the second half Ribb turned to the kicking game but with no more success.

They applied the boot from first-phase ball and decaying forward drives when the home defence was fully formed.

A very astute and able Wath full back dealt with this threat, almost with contempt, as he peppered a young Ribb back three into a series of pressure-building mistakes.

Throughout the course of the second half this pressure was to lead to three penalty awards with two successfully kicked and a loss for Ribb which didn’t do justice to their commitment.

It was however, a fair reflection on Wath’s ability to do what needed doing when it needed doing.

Ribb were dominant in the scrum all day but gained no advantage from that or the line-out where a larger and more cynical Wath pack went unpunished by the referee for the whole of the game.

On the other hand it could be said that perhaps the Ribb pack need to adapt to the referee’s interpretation of the laws.

To Ribb’s credit there was no lack of commitment and perhaps some of the decisions given against them fuelled that passion.

On the plus side several players stepped up from the second team and showed their desire for a shirt and will be the better for the experience gained.

One landmark which can not go unmentioned is for John Thwaite to have himself and all his three sons Mick, Will and Andy start a first team game together.

As you would expect all of them gave their all but special mention must go to Andy, the youngest, who tackled everything and when he gains that Thwaite strength will be a formidable player.