Ribb weather the conditions to clinch place in last eight of Yorkshire Shield (From Craven Herald)

Ribb weather the conditions to clinch place in last eight of Yorkshire Shield

11:06am Thursday 1st December 2011 in North Ribblesdale By Andrew Mills

North Ribblesdale 25 Acklam 11

North Ribblesdale progressed to the third round of the Yorkshire Shield in a match which was illuminated by some attractive rugby despite conditions which veered from atrocious to appalling.

The decisive factor in Ribb’s success was their scrum dominance which allowed them to stifle the flow of possession to Acklam’s free-running backline.

But the Ribb three-quarters including 17-year-olds Sam Allsop and Rob Hayes, looked just as potent.

The big Acklam pack muscled Ribb into their own half in the first quarter and drew first blood with a penalty in front of the posts.

Will Davidson, who played a tactically astute game at stand off for Ribb, replied after ten minutes when a break by Dan Watson forced a penalty for offside Acklam used the strong wind to push Ribb into their own half and fly half Duffy who was bigger than his side’s tight head prop, showed a good turn of pace to break and feed his equally robust centre Ashton who forced another penalty.

Ribb battled back and slowly they started to get the measure of their opponents’ scrum .

This gave their back row the opportunity to break and when winger Simon Bolland was halted, Acklam conceded a penalty from which Davidson levelled the scores.

Ribb then got a decisive score while playing into the strengthening wind.

A spirited run by Allsop on the right led to a midfield break from Watson.

When the ball was recycled, Bolland made ground before Acklam were penalised at a maul and had a player sin-binned.

Ribb opted for the scrum which collapsed and the referee awarded a penalty try which Davidson converted for a 13-6 half-time lead.

Once Ribb had the wind and rain at their backs and Davidson lost no time in pushing Acklam back, but obdurate defence kept the home side out.

Acklam were not done and in the 50th minute they produced a back move which put their right winger Dunn clear to score in the corner.

The home pack were getting the upper hand and both Ryan Kirkbride and Rob Corner were making ground and space for Davidson and Watson to kick for position, but Ribb could not breach the Acklam defence.

The next score came when Davidson penned Acklam into their own 22 with a well-judged kick. Hayes following up with pace caught the full back and Ribb turned the ball over.

Bolland went close and from the ruck another penalty was awarded and the referee showed the red card to the player who had been sin-binned earlier.

Ribb tapped the penalty and were dragged down short of the line.The forwards were determined not to be denied and when they recycled possession, Watson sent Kirkbride running in for a try under the posts which Davidson converted.