Signs of hope for rock-bottom North Ribblesdale (From Craven Herald)

Signs of hope for rock-bottom North Ribblesdale

10:35am Thursday 10th November 2011 in North Ribblesdale

Dinnington 11 North Ribblesdale 6

North Ribblesdale were on their travels again on Saturday as they made the long trip to Dinnington for a relegation battle.

And once again they returned home empty handed after losing to a side that was just a point ahead of them before the game, After the previous week’s well documented poor display, the mood in the Ribb camp was one of determination to turn their season round.

They started brightly with a breeze at their backs and the slope in their favour. Their enterprise was rewarded with two penalties in the first ten minutes from William Davidson – one was a mighty effort from inside his own half.

The Dinnington forwards slowly moved into their stride and began to pick and drive uphill to good effect.

After several phases of play they got into Ribb’s 22 for the first time and winger Sharples evaded two tackles to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Ribb, despite applying pressure from stalwart forwards Ryan Kirkbride, Adam Stubbs and John Thwaite, could not breach a resolute home defence.

It was 6-5 to Ribb at the break but it didn’t look enough of a lead.

The second half was always going to be a back to the walls effort and so it transpired.

To a man the Ribb forwards fronted up in the face of a retreating scrum that made life very difficult for Jack Davidson to get over the gainline from number eight.

Pressure eventually told and Ribb were penalised for not releasing, and fullback Liam Davies slotted the three points on offer to give the home side the lead with only 15 minutes remaining.

Further pressure from the home pack saw Davies drop a goal to give them a lead of 11-6 that they were not to relinquish.

Ribb steeled themselves for one last effort and Matthew Dakin was put clear 30 metres out only for what could have been a match-winning pass to be adjudged forward.

So it was not to be but Ribb’s resilience earned a first bonus point on the road and the new centre pairing of Stephen Moon and skipper Dan Watson looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

Commitment was in plentiful supply from everyone. Ryan Kirkbride set the tone with with a man-of-the- match display.

Ribb are still rooted to the foot of the league but with a home match on Saturday against old foes Knottingley they are hopeful of ending their dismal run.

At last there is competition for places especially in the pack with both Michael Carr and James Dugdale available after missing last week’s game, It wont take much improvement to start a winning run.