Ribb's young guns play well in losing cause

12:49pm Thursday 27th December 2007

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Wheatley Hills 20 North Ribblesdale 6

In its infinite wisdom the RFU sent out a dispensation that matches cancelled last week did not have to be played on the next available Saturday over the Christmas period.

However the caveat was that both teams had to agree, so what do you think Ribb's opponents at full strength at home did?

Predictably they insisted that Ribb go 70 miles with a depleted squad containing five 17-year-olds.

Ribb were beaten by a side with more firepower.

But the exercise was far from negative as Jack Davidson, the latest in the Davidson family production line, pulled off a stunning tackle in the last minute to keep the score respectable.

Earlier Tom Davidson had opened the scoring with a stunning penalty from the halfway line and picked up another and had another harshly disallowed. His kicking out of hand was very good and put Wheatley Hills on the back foot frequently.

Ribb's problem was turnover ball and lack of penetration. They also lost the ball in possession on numerous occasions which was their ultimate downfall against a side who counter-attacked well all day.

Ben Topham and Simon Chapman, Ribb's most penetrating runners hardly had a running ball, nor did Simon Bolland who had another excellent chasing and tackling game.

Nathan Dakin at seven ran all day and put in several excellent tackles as did David Fox at scrum half.

Ribb pressed without threatening for the first 20 minutes , but against the run of play they conceded a penalty and a try through the forwards to trail 10-3 at half-time.

Ribb tired a little in the second half but were still winning ball. A strange off-side decision when the ball had been out of the scrum gave the home side a foothold to score their second converted try.

A late penalty after pressure completed the scoring but for tenacious defence it could have been a lot worse.

Ribb won the ball in set pieces all day and defended well.

They have in the five young players who have real future prospects.

Wheatly Hills is not a place for the fainthearted and the youngsters all acquitted themselves well and were certainly not overawed.

They game was lost not because of technical deficiencies or lack of effort but due to the opposition having more firepower and the nous to use it.

The slimmer Adam Stubbs, who came on at half-time, was the only Ribb forward to physically take on the home pack, although James Dugdale had another good game.

John Thwaite was a bit quieter than usual having taken a heavy blow on the head which surprisingly slowed him down, but his appetite for future games of rugby will be undiminished.

In the meantime the club are waiting for more directives from the RFU designed to help us - maybe along the lines that it's alright to scrummage as long as the opposition agree!