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Comment

North Ribblesdale 13 Goole 6

Ribb duly won this heavyweight encounter with a monumental struggle against a very beefy pack whose scrum gave Ribb a severe test.

Ribb were the better side outside the scrum and initiated some sparkling back moves particularly against the wind in the first-half.

The pitch was heavy but playable and the gusty wind veered from corner to corner to up the pitch Ribb had a similar game plan to the previous week; hold the ball for long periods against the wind and counterattack when possible.

The plan worked well with Ribb only conceding a penalty in the first-half and they instituted several back moves which caused trouble for the Goole defence throughout the game.

Both wingers received regular possession. Ian Bartlett on the right came into the middle on several occasions allowing Simon Chapman to exploit space at full back and to put away Simon Bolland.

Despite being driven back by Goole's use of the wind Ribb made several counter-attacks taking play into the Goole's 22, twice forcing penalties which resulted in attacking line-outs. Uncharacteristically losing their own throw twice on the Goole line. Tom Davidson was also narrowly wide with a well struck penalty.

Goole went ahead after a midfield offside but were never in a try scoring position due to solid midfield defence by Davidson, Ben Topham and Jonathan Richards. Ribb had several counter-attacks and were unlucky not to score on two or three occasions.

At half-time they were in a match winning position with the wind in their favour in the second- half. Davidson kicked off deep and Goole started to exhibit the power of their pack using the pick and drive to great effect driving Ribb back to the half-way line.

However, once they lost the ball Davidson drove them back into their own half where they repeated the process. Goole used this tactic with great effect the whole of the second-half holding the ball for long periods.

Ribb were struggling to get hold of the ball and had very little useable possession in the first 20 minutes. Davidson missed two penalties by a small margin, one from the halfway line. Having a kicker of this length brings a new facet to Ribb's game forcing the defence to be very wary in their own half.

Goole battered their way into the Ribb half and kicked a further penalty for a maul offence. Ribb came storming back through a powerful run by Richards and a vigorous maul bought a penalty for off-side which Davidson kicked to bring the score back to 6-3 .

Goole were not finished and again their forward took play into the Ribb half. A Ribb scrum was disrupted but Mick Carr at eight picked up and went up the blind side handing on the Bartlett who made 20 yards and kicked ahead. The full- back struggled to turn and Bartlett got the touchdown for Davidson to convert.

Once Ribb got ahead the game was over. Goole though still exhibited power in the forwards but hadn't the backs to trouble Ribb's defence and a second penalty by Davidson sealed the win.

A good all round team effort against a limited side but with the most powerful pack seen at Grove Park this season. The young contingent of Bolland, Dakin and Davidson once again had very effective games and the equally young Jack Davidson showed his quality in the brief period as a blood substitute.

Ribb's team work and back play were very impressive and they should progress further up the league table and in the Shield next week at Guisborough.

2:19pm Thursday 31st January 2008

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