Ribb clinch title with battling win (From Craven Herald)

Ribb clinch title with battling win

7:45pm Wednesday 21st April 2010 in

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Pocklington 8 N Ribb 25

North Ribblesdale’s seemingly comfortable win at Pocklington sealed the division two title for the Settle side.

The score did not however reflect Pocklington’s part in an absorbing game where Pocklington’s young side matched Ribb for long periods, especially when playing against the wind in the first- half.

Ribb won this game by denying the home side the ball in the second-half when Pock had the stiff breeze at their backs.

Two second-half tries were decisive for Ribb, both from scrum strikes against the head.

The first allowing Ryan Kirkbride to pick up and drive through the home defence to give Mick Carr possession on the 22 and with a burst of power he forced his way over.

James Ogden then took a ball against the head but after his demise with a rib injury the young Matthew Knowles came on and any notion of an easier ride for the home front row was disabused when Knowles took a clean strike against the head.

Using opposition set piece ball is not easy, the backline is in defensive alignment, but Stephen Moon took the ball with alacrity, made a half break and put Jonny Moimoi in space on half-way.

Moimoi raced round his man and in a curving run got to the 22. Half tackled by the full-ack he staggered but with a show of strength sprinted away to score wide out. Moon’s conversion was the icing on the cake.

Ribb played with the wind in the first-half and with spring sunshine at their backs maybe should have kicked more, but Moon and his backline had come to play.

Pocklington, who over the years had come to expect forward attrition from Ribb, were surprised.

In the first five minutes Simon Chapman came into the line and put Simon Bolland away. He was repulsed with difficulty.

The field position afforded more Ribb pressure and an off-side allowed Moon to Kick his first penalty after ten minutes. Pocklington came back and forced Ribb into their own half only stubborn defence keeping them out.

In Nathan Dakin Ribb had the quickest man to the loose ball, although, as a unit, Pocklington were quicker.

Dakin slowed a lot of ball down and allowed Ribb’s defence to dominate. Ribb cleared their line when given a penalty for holding on.

Moimoi’s left foot from inside his own 22 put Ribb in possession in the Pock 22 and a line- out surge led to a scrum.

Pock held out and cleared but a blind side drive by Kirkbride led to another attacking scrum.

There was no reprieve this time and Kirkbride scored wide out Pocklington came back but Ribb’s defence was more than equal to the task even when Bolland was harshly sin-binned for a tackle offence.

Pocklington’s Holborough kicked a difficult penalty into the wind but from the kick-off they transgressed, Stephen Moon kicking another penalty to give his side a half-time lead of 11-3.

The match was far from over as Pocklington now had the benefit of the wind, which had strengthened considerable by the time the second-half came around, and the North Ribblesdale lead looked slender.

The Ribb front five’s role was thus to be decisive.

They denied Pocklington any sort of platform and were trying to run slow ball.

North Ribbledale’s midfield coped easily and Dakin turned over ball.

Pocklington did get deep into the Ribb 22 and won a couple of rucks to put them in a position to score.

They won a line-out and mauled their way over the line for a try by Britland, who combined well with scrum-half Rees, who very unusually is bigger and heavier than his No 8, who himself is no lightweight.

At 11-8 the game had changed and Pocklington sensed a win.

Moon’s kick-off was won by Clay, who had another good game. Ribb drove into the 22 but Pocklington cleared to the ten yard line with a penalty for off-side.

Ribb knocked on in the line- out.

Ogden and Thwaite put a lot of pressure on and Ribb drove over the ball to set up Carr’s try, converted by Moon, for 18-8.

Pocklington were still pressing but efficient defence meant full-back Chapman did not have to make a tackle.

In the last ten minutes Ribb lost Ogden to a rib injury, Knowles stepping in.

Heap replaced Carr and Davidson came on to replace Spensley. Moimoi’s try was the best individual move of the game but also the decisive score. This was a fine win for Ribb against very difficult opponents and it is several years since North Ribblesdale managed to gain a win at Pocklington so this was a superb effort indeed.

North Ribblesdale are now promoted but have the not inconsiderable task of trying to overcome Castleford at home in the Yorkshire Shield on Saturday.