REPORT BY: GAVIN DAVIDSON
NORTH Ribblesdale’s longest trip of the season couldn’t have started much worse than it did on Saturday.
Their trip to Bridlington got off to the worst possible start, even prior to the match, as the team coach broke down and a took an hour for the replacement vehicle to arrive.
And to make things worse, traffic near York was stationary and caused a further delay, meaning Ribb arrived after the scheduled kick-off time and only had ten minutes to warm up after a four-hour journey.
Unsurprisingly, legs were weary, and the home side surged into an early 12-point lead through tries by Williamson and Colclough one converted by local kiwi Roberts.
Ribb were reeling for the first time this season but slowly started to get a foot hold in the game and after applying some pressure skipper Harry Mathew found a gap and scampered over from close range. Tom Davidson converted to make it 12-7.
Several infringements against Ribb, and several unforced errors hampered their ability to build any pressure and from two of the infringements Roberts kicked another two penalties for an interval lead of 18-7 to the hosts.
With their first piece of possession after the interval, young winger, Elliot Belt scored a great try scything through the home defence from 40 metres for a converted score.
Bridlington again came back and through a penalty and a converted try led 28-14 in the last quarter, but more drama was to unfold.
First Ben Coultherd scored a trademark try and then Belt squeezed in at the corner for two converted tries to level at 28-28.
With the clock in the last three minutes Roberts again kicked a penalty and the chance seemed lost.
This Ribb side has a never say die attitude and in the last two minutes threw the kitchen sink at their hosts, a couple of gaps appeared and it was Belt who provided the scoring pass to flanker Michael Robinson to score the winning converted try.
This was a dour performance of much character from a side shorn of a few wedding attendees and was a statement away win to keep their promotion ambitions alive.
Edward Bradley impressed with his tackle count as did Conor Stubbs and Michael Robinson. Stalwart Adam Stubbs put in a full shift and youngsters Elliot Belt and Ben Coultherd were shining lights in the backs.
Ribb now sit proudly at the top of Yorkshire One and are away again this week to second placed Pocklington for what promises to be another challenging assignment.
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