North Ribblesdale 6 Beverley 26

NORTH Ribblesdale were unable to build on a promising start as they slipped to a Yorkshire One defeat.

Liam Wallbank robbed his opposite number with the first tackle of the match.

The scrum and line-out were solid and the midfield defence was ferocious as Ribb edged ahead with a penalty from Mick Thwaite.

Unfortunately, they didn't make their superiority count as their kicking from hand was poor, and they suffered a big setback when a weak clearance enabled winger Luke Hazell to run in unopposed for an unconverted try.

Ribb fell away in the second half as their midfield intensity waned. Several times in the second half poor and uncontrolled kicks gave possession away.

They should have more confidence in their dominant back row forwards Richard Wood and John Padley to recycle the ball and keep possession.

Beverley scored three unanswered second-half unanswered tries to Thwaites solitary penalty although the excellent Ryan Sumner lost the ball on the line after a good exchange with Jonny Moore.

Ribb played away from the clubhouse and showed their intent with Wallbank stealing the ball in the first Beverley attack.

Ribb were alert from the start and did not look a struggling side, however they missed Sumner's muscular straightening of the line due to him being inexplicably on the bench, Ribb were winning plenty of ball and were playing in Beverley's half but they are not crisp in attack ,it takes the ball and age to get to the centres.

Mick Thwaite's did turn the visitors defence occasionally but they did not pose a threat outside. The first half was stalemate, Ribb's fast line speed closing Beverley down.

The scrum and line-out went with the put in, and while Wood and Padley were quicker to the loose ball Ribb's passing was not crisp enough to trouble a good defence.

The game was drifting to half-time when Beverley got into the Ribb 22, Ribb won a scrum, but the clearing kick failed to make touch, and Luke Hazell scored with an easy run in to the corner to put his side ahead 5-3 at the break.

Ribb started the second half with early pressure, but they could not turn this into a score, Beverley then took forward control and a penalty took them into Ribb's half.

From a line-out their big pack rumbled forward with Raymond Coates driven over for a converted try with Phil Doulday converting.

Ribb took play into the visitors half and Mick Thwaite kicked his second penalty to reduce the deficit to 12-6, but that was the end of the Ribb scoring.

Ribb were still winning and kicking away possession when it would have been better to move the big Beverley pack around with quick ball.

Beverley were making their forward strength tell with a series of drives which culminated in Sam Fell scoring the third try again converted by Doulday.

Ribb were looking ragged but they did produce one move which deserved a better outcome.

A turnover by Padley led to a break by Ryan Sumner which was taken on by Jonny Moore into the 22.

Sumner showed good pace and took the return pass but lost the ball on the line.

Immediately, Ribb won a penalty and opted to tap it and run as they needed a try. Once again the move petered out.

Ribb were deflated and a lapse in concentration allowed Jack Howdle to score a soft try which gave Beverley the bonus point. Doulday added the conversion for good measure.