It's back to the drawing board for Ribblesdale after big defeat (From Craven Herald)

It's back to the drawing board for Ribblesdale after big defeat

3:44pm Thursday 3rd November 2011 in North Ribblesdale By Andrew Mills

Pocklington 34, North Ribblesdale 6

Ribb cannot carry on like this – another self-indulgent performance in SSE Yorkshire Division One by the decision makers demoralised a pack which was struggling to cope with a very mobile Pocklington, who also scrummaged well.

The result was conceding five tries and a platform which allowed home flanker Jack Holborough, who was the man of the match, to score three tries.

Ribb’s problem is a lack of mobility and a fitful performance from the forwards and a complete lack of tactical acumen in the back line.

A perusal over the match reports for the last three seasons show a common thread of Ribb refusing to play for territory with the wind at their backs.

When they do kick it’s of the ‘what’s in it for me?’ variety – silly little chip and chases.

It needs booming kicks into the corners, especially when you have a goal-kicker of Will Davidson’s class who can convert from the halfway line.

At any level, if a team is penned in it's own 22 it’s inevitable that they will give away penalties.

Pocklington started well and were soon on the board with two tries and a penalty.

Davidson narrowly missed from the halfway line and then got one from a similar distance.

Ribb, having a makeshift scrum half, struggled in the scrum but Dean Stacey and Jack Davidson were comfortable in the line-out but Ribb chose to drive a lot of line-outs and lost the ball on several occasions.

What’s wrong with middle-of-the line-out ball straight off the top when the backs are 20 metres apart? Once it’s driven, the defence can move up to the back foot and stifle the attack, even if they manage to retain possession.

Ribb played most of the first half between their ten-metre line and their 22. It’s a dangerous place to dwell, especially when confronted by a fast, aggressive back row.

A combination of a flat standing back line and slow ball means a lot of turnovers Ribb did pay better in the second half but Pocklington scored a penalty try for not ten metres at a penalty, and further tries from the home seven which led to visiting heads going down.

The arrival of Richard Lynn brought enthusiasm back but it was far too late.

Although Ribb were better in the second half, they were up against a rampant pack, who every time they looked up had the ball in front of them.

Sam Allsop showed his pace with a 50-metre run, Shane Holmes made a dent with another run, and Davidson kicked another penalty.

But it was Pocklington’s day, and after the first 15 minutes Ribb rarely had a sniff.

A re-think in tactics is needed. The back line stands very flat, which is fine for fast go-forward ball but the slow fare churned out on Saturday meant the midfield were smothered and kicking was impossible. What about a sensible kicking game when the receiver stands deep in the pocket and puts it in the corners or very high with a fast aggressive chase?

It’s not all tactical, however. There are forwards who are not putting in the effort needed. It’s a team game. To succeed if one part’s struggling, the remainder have to play twice as hard to make up.

It’s not as though there’s not plenty of talent in the side. Better tactics and more effort from the forwards will soon turn the side around.