North Ribblesdale 10 Beverley 16

NORTH Ribblesdale managed to retrieve a bonus point to just about keep them in touch with their fellow strugglers in Yorkshire One.

This loss was purely down to Beverley's superior three-quarters who, wherever they had the ball, looked dangerous and tested Ribb's defence to the full.

Ribb kicked off and soon found themselves defending their line, and this they did with great credit.

They relieved the pressure with good work by their backs and forwards and gained a foothold in Beverley's 22.

Richard Wood won a line-out ball for Ribb but they failed to control the ball after the initial surge and the chance was lost.

Beverley again powered back upfield as Ribb went offside and Rob Smith converted a penalty.

A bit of a stalemate ensued but in the final minutes of the first half a concentrated attack saw Beverley's right wing Jack Garvin race over in the corner.

The second period saw the Beverley backs torment the Ribb defence and only last-ditch tackling prevented what looked like a certain score.

Ribb again powered upfield through good runs by Wood, Mick Carr and Will Booth.

When Beverley went offside at the ruck, Mick Thwaite converted the penalty.

Ribb were looking the more threatening side and after several pick and drives close to the away line, Ribb had scrum advantage.

From the dismantled scrum Mick Carr scored near the posts with Thwaite converting.

Ribb were now within touching distance of the Beverley score but again allowed the visitors back into the game.

Further good play by their backs saw Garvin score his second try of the game.

Ribb now had it all to do to rescue the bonus point but Beverley were visibly tiring.

Good play by Josh Long, Peter Cook and Mick Thwaite saw Ribb awarded a penalty which Thwaite converted.

Further incisive play by Beverley's backs resulted in Ribb again defending their line but over-zealous play saw them transgress at the breakdown and Smith again converted the penalty.

In the closing stages of the game Ribb's pack power began to tell on the visitors and after several scrums on the Beverley line their forwards fell foul of the official and both the away props were sin-binned.

Also, their hooker went down injured so with no front row replacements the referee had no option but to go to uncontested scrums. This ended Ribb's last challenge and another loss.

On the positive side Ribb have several young players coming through full back Josh Long, right wing Sam Morphet and forwards Adam Middleton and Booth show a lot of potential.

Richard Wood was again the outstanding player on the Ribb side.