Yorkshire Division One: Old Brodleians 22 North Ribblesdale 7

RIBB put in a much-improved performance but it was not enough to overcome Brodleians' all-round competence.

The visitors let in two tries in the first 26 minutes playing uphill from the standard tactic of kicking into the bottom right-hand corner and attacking from the line-out.

Winger Michael Briggs got the first and Ribb conceded a penalty try for the second after flanker Richard Wood was sin-binned, with Ollie Akroyd converting.

Fellow winger Zak Thompson got the third home try on 31 minutes to give a half-time score of 17-0.

In the second half, Ribb kicked better and kept Brods in their own half for long periods, but they struggled to break down the home defence, coming close but not getting over the line, and not taking advantage of a yellow card to home hooker Joe Fee.

Ribb's backline is very lateral, making a drift defence easy, and although Johnny Moore does straighten that line, the resultant ball is slow and, although Ribb create lot of phases, it is very ponderous.

After a rare Brods counter-attack, replacement back Anton Gaughan was put in at the corner to take the score to 22-0.

Five minutes later, however, a powerful surge by the Ribb pack gave space for Moore to go in under the posts for Mick Thwaite to convert.

Ribb are hanging on in this division and need a win on Saturday at home to Heath (2.15).

However, the injury list is still huge, and Jonathan Richards now has a long-term injury and there is no sign of a return by Matthew Speres, with these two being Ribb's best attacking players.

But the acquisition of Latvian winger Martins Bokiss and hooker Grundars Griekis are distinct plusses.

Bokiss is busy and quick and has a physical approach, while Griekis is a full-on physical front-row forward whose hooking and throwing in was good and who is very active in the tackle and breakdown areas.

Ribb kept their shape under some severe pressure from Brods in the first 20 minutes, and teams higher in the league have had worse results at Brods.

Ribb, while not the finished article, played much better and will look forward to Heath's visit on Saturday with some optimism.