North Ribblesdale RU
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Ribb past test at Guisborough
Guisborough 14 North Ribblesdale 30
North Ribblesdale duly won this Yorkshire Shield encounter but not without difficulty. The massive home front row gave them a severe test and it's to their credit that they came through it.
Guisborough won the toss and played with the strong wind in the first-half - a decision which seemed justified after 30 minutes when they had gone into a 14-0 lead through tries by burly flanker Mark Richards and then a very well- worked try by Ed Richards on the blind side.
Jamie Clark, a debutant Colt, converted both with excellent place kicks.
Ribb effectively won the game when Simon Chapman came bursting out of defence to the half way line.
Ignoring his coach's instruction not to kick he booted it past the last defender for Jonathan Richards to hack on and score wide out.Tom Davidson converted.
Two minutes later Ryan Kirkbride, taking the kick-off, got into the Guisborough half. The forwards took it on and gave quick ruck ball which gave Ben Topham the chance to make a half break.
Quick ruck ball sent Davidson scampering up the blind side and a well-timed pass put Anthony Simpson over. Davidson converted.
The score didn't tell the whole story of the first-half where a Ribb scrum under pressure battled for the loose ball and for long periods starved Guisborough of possession.
Topham and Richards were a threat in midfield and Chapman was cool under the high ball and sharp on counter. The line-out was excellent with James Dugdale and Dean Stacey dominating. This duo also had a big impact in the loose. With the advantage of the wind in the second-half Ribb were always going to create pressure with Davidson's boot.
Guisborough played most of the second-half within sight of their own posts and were duly punished by three second-half Davidson penalties, two from long range.
Guisborough battled and their scrum was dominant up to the last ten minutes but they never escaped Ribb's midfield defence of Davidson,Topham and Richards.
At 23-14 Guisborough had to score twice to win and as hard as they struggled it never seemed likely.
Chapman put the matter beyond doubt when he scorched over on the left for a try which Davidson converted.
Ribb should have scored another after a shattering burst by Newhouse was halted at the posts. Quick ball would have seen another try but the forwards contracted white line fever and the chance was lost.
This was a good workmanlike win from a side running into form, based not on Ribb's usual forward dominance but on spirit, intelligence and endeavour.
Ribb's front row of Richard Maudsley Graeme Newhouse and James Ogden knew they had been in a game but despite taking a severe first-half pounding they came through.
Ogden's line-out throwing was excellent as he found his jumpers constantly despite the strong gale.
The back row led by Kirkbide had a good holding game while Adam Stubbs coming on late had an immediate impact with a crushing tackle. But the stars in this game were the backs. They gave excellent value and were fundamental to the win.
1:37pm Thursday 28th February 2008
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