North Ribblesdale 14 Selby 7

NORTH Ribblesdale’s hard-earned victory came at a cost with their skipper Simon Bolland suffering an injury which could sideline him for the rest of the season.

This was Ribb at their attritional best. They overcame the absence of Matt Speres, Jonathan Richards and David Fox to defeat their dogged opponents.

Ribb raced into a 14-0 lead in the first ten minutes and followed up by showing their defensive qualities to limit Selby to one converted try.

Normally 50 minutes of rugby without any points is not a good advert for the sport, but this was.

Ribb made a dream start when Will Booth won clean line-out ball. Michael Thwaite and Steve Moon instigated the move which saw Jonny Moore bounce off the covering flanker and full back to score a superb individual try. Moon added the conversion.

Selby kicked off and Ribb ran the ball back and got play into their opponents’ half. A determined run by Jim Tunney, who made big yards all day, forced Selby into conceding a penalty which Moon kicked into the corner.

Andrew Thwaite won the line out and Ribb drove forward into the 22. Selby rallied, but Ribb moved the point of attack and the determined Mick Carr got over for a try which was again converted by Moon.

Any thoughts of a Ribb points spree were soon dispelled as Selby, led by their powerful No 8 Sam Broughton, seized the initiative.

A series of pick and drives split the home defence and gave Broughton the chance to open Selby’s account. The try was converted.

The second half saw Selby dominating the line-out and scrums. They also used their big forwards down the middle to create space for the backs.

However Ribb's midfield of Moon, Ryan Gill and Moore were equal to the task while Ribb’s back row of Thwaite, Tunney and Wood slowed Selby's ball down.

Ribb got through a difficult period without conceding a score but they suffered injuries to Padley and Moore.

The last 20 minutes were a bit easier as Ribb brought on John Thwaite and Adam Stubbs to give relief to Ribb's front rowers Calum Wilson and Graham Newhouse who had done an excellent job of holding the big Selby three.

Ribb’s only period of pressure in the second half was from a disrupted scrum with Ribb driving Selby off the ball. Moon made a good break and quick handling saw Micky Richards dragged down by a good tackle from the full back.

Selby laid siege to the Ribb line for the last few minutes and the home side were reduced to 14 men when Moon took a yellow card for the team.

Ribb stood firm and their injury-hit team could celebrate a hard-earned win when the final whistle sounded.