U15's Confidence Growing with a Cup Win

Back to the Cup this week for a home fixture against Keighley. The visitors started strongly pushing Ripon back however the defence stood up well and despite a long spell of possession they could not break the Ripon line. By the fifteen minute mark Ripon had weathered the early pressure and driven on by a much improved pack (from last week) started to turn the game round, The break-through came after twenty minutes, the ball was turned over and quickest to react was Olly Bowett showing good speed to reach the five meter line before offloading to James Willis who touched down by the post. Charlie Hynes put the conversion over for a 7-0 lead.

Confidence growing Ripon pushed on Rob Heaton twice getting to the tryline before force of numbers held him up. James Gatford had to go off for running repairs after one of the Keighley players used his face as a doormat, no lasting damage and he returned to play a fine game winning the Man of Steel award for his efforts. Halftime 7-0.

Ripon doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, awarded a penalty in front of the posts, Ripon elected to run the ball wide, good hands seeing it out to Charlie Britton who crashed over in the corner. Step up Hynesy with the kick of the game to score from the sideline. 14-0.

Ripon’s third saw Ric Castle-Ward at his best, great running from within his own half saw him to the five meter line where the ball was gathered by prop Sam Headford who held off the defenders to touch down. With Hynesy off the pitch, kicking duty was taken up by flyhalf Archie Hassel. Archies
kicking had Keighley in trouble all the game, finding the corners time after time, pinning them back in there twenty-two and giving Ripon’s backs good balls to run onto, so much so he was awarded Man of the Match, however he will not be taking over Charlie’s job anytime soon.

Ripon’s forth showed great teamwork, James G started the run, Rob took it on, Henry Calvert recycled it to Archie, he got it to Ric who went over for a well deserved try, a great team effort, 24-0. In the last minute of the game Ripon’s only real loss of concentration saw Keighley score. The ball kicked through and a mix up in the defence saw the Keighley man touch down. Final score 24-5