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Comment

North Ribblesdale 32 West Leeds 12

West Leeds gave Ribb a stern test at Bramhope and it took a crushing tackle by Simon Chapman to keep Ribb afloat that day. On Saturday the whole of the Ribb backline combined in defence to frustrate the visitors whose pack were dominant in the first half.

One tackle by Tom Davidson on the big inside centre epitomised the home defence - in the first half it was necessary.

Ribb's pack went walkabout, deciding that watching the backline tackle and their forward colleagues try to hold a rampant maul was enough. Ribb's back row did their best in an uneven contest but the Leeds pack, encouraged by their feisty scrum half, made yard after yard of ground with the maul and pick and go. Jack Davidson and Nathan Dakin, marshalled by Mick Carr, kept them at bay, but it was hard work.

Ribb had taken the opportunity of giving Davidson and Allan Newhouse a start, leaving skipper Ryan Kirkbride on the bench and Adam Stubbs with the armband.

They opted to play away from the clubhouse and were soon on the attack, the kick off was driven and then kicked into the corner. A line-out was stolen and Ribb were camped in Leeds's 22. Good driving runs by Allan Newhouse, who is very comfortable on the ball, nearly led to a score. The resultant ruck saw Chapman over in the corner after a very good back move.

Ribb were soon on the attack again and Jonathan Richards kicked two penalties.

It looked like an easy win was on the cards but the visiting pack, not having learned the script, then took charge until half time, scoring two tries from short range after battering the ball upfield.

Half the Ribb pack were very surprised at this, after all they had positioned themselves in the centre ready to race the length to score and their remaining forwards not only did not win the ball they gave ground as well.

Twelve-thirteen at half time, Leed's were scenting an upset and to be fair if the backline and back row had not tackled and foraged they would have been a further score up.

Ribb needed to up their game, the dilettante forwards heading back to the coalface and paying more attention to the basics.

Ribb did all of this and the game totally changed. A start was a prescient piece of rugby from David Fox who floated a precision pass over two defenders to put Simon Bolland away for an unconverted try.

Ribb were away from the kick off and substitute Kirkbride was soon making his presence felt. From second row, a position he appeared to relish, he made several forceful charges allowing the excellent Ribb back row room to move.

Anthony Simpson made 40 yards and was denied a score on what appeared a referee's error. Dakin got a well deserved try from 20 yards and the best was scored by Richards who put Chapman through the middle to make 50 yards and score. Davidson kicked two conversions and Richards another penalty and a conversion.

12:22pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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