Moortown 39 North Ribblesdale 31

NORTH Ribblesdale were punished for a catastrophic start as they shipped two rapid-fire tries in the first ten minutes of a high-scoring Yorkshire One game.

Even scoring five tries and earning a bonus point could not repair the early damage.

Once again they failed to employ an effective kicking game when they had the wind behind them and Moortown ran in three long-range second-half tries to ensure they took the win.

Ribb went behind after just five minutes when the alert and quick scrum half made a sharp break which led to a try by Moortown's right winger.

There was a further setback for the visitors from the restart. Moortown shipped the ball wide and their burly inside centre scored a converted try.

Finding themselves 12-0 down, Ribb rallied with Ryan Sumner punching a hole in midfield before David Fox dummied and went over for Ribb's first try which was converted by Mick Thwaite.

They looked to have a great chance to score again when the immaculate Will Booth took the ball at a line-out close to the Roundhegians line, but the ball was lost during the subsequent drive.

The home side made the most of the let off with their scrum half seeing space to trigger a sweeping length-of-the-field move which resulted in a converted try which established a 19-7 lead.

Ribb's cause wasn't helped when Matt Dakin was sin-binned for the rest of the half. During his absence, Moortown took advantage with another long-range unconverted try which gave them a 24-7 lead at half-time.

Ribb had the advantage of the wind in the second half and registered the first score after Mick Thwaite forced a line-out deep in Moortown territory.

Booth won the line-out and Ribb forced their way over with Richard Lynn getting the touch down. Mick Thwaite added the conversion.

Minutes later the deficit was reduced to 24-19 when Andrew Thwaite went over after an identical move.

Moortown realised they had a game on their hands and ran in another long-range try from a loose kick to keep Ribb at arm's length.

The visitors were certainly not giving up the fight. Matt Speres scored the bonus-point try after Andy Thwaite had caught Moortown's centre in possession.

Any hope of Ribb snatching victory were shattered when the Moortown inside centre made 60 yards to put their winger in for a try under the posts. Ribb kept pressing and were rewarded when a long kick set up a scrum under the posts.

The home side dropped the scrum twice before the referee awarded a penalty try.

The priority for Ribb is to stop leaking tries. If they can shore-up their defence they will win more games than they lose.

Both sides below Ribb won to keep the pressure on at the bottom of the table so it is important that they convert these high-scoring games into a few wins.