A Close Battle Against Pocklington

A good hard game against Pocklington for the U15s at home this week. For once Ripon started well, good running from Ric, James Willis and Ben put them on the front foot. The breakthrough came from James Willis who stole the ball at a Pock lineout on their 5 metre line and ran it over to score. Pocklington came back strongly and the Ripon defence did well to hold them out, a series of penalties inside Ripons 5 metre saw some great tackles going in, Will Langford standing out with a Man of the Match performance.

Pock however did get over late in the half breaking off the back of a maul to score down the blind side. Halftime 5-5. Pock went ahead early in the second half kicking a penalty in front of the posts. Ripon did not learn and Mat Sutton took one for the team, sent off after a run of offside decisions.

Good phased play saw Ripon take the ball back into the Pock red zone and after strong rucking 2 yards out Rob Heaton took the ball off the back and powered over taking three defenders with him 10-8. Pock came back again to score 10-13. Ripon kicked on again James Gatford got through from the halfway line handing off three defenders only to be stopped by Will who had swapped shirts when Pock where reduced to 14 due to injury.

With time running out Ripon got what looked like the winning try, Scrum-half Henry Calvert taking a quick tap and slipping through to score in the corner. 15-13. Yet again however an offside decision cost the game, Ripon conceded the penalty in front of the posts and Pock kicked the winner with the last kick of the match to win 15-16.