1st XV Match Report – Yorkshire Silver Trophy

Undeterred by the draw of the Old Mutual Autumn International series, a few of the Ripon faithful (not quite double figures) travelled to Shaw Lane on Saturday to witness what was to be perhaps Ripon’s seminal performance of the season to date. Not an emphatic victory by any means, nor one in which any form of dominance was established throughout the game, but one which set out the Blues stall for the rest of the season; with resilience, teamwork and determination.

Despite being a bright and almost windless afternoon, the altitude at Barnsley offered a cold reception, a spirited and hotly partisan crowd and a challenge to Ripon to repeat their defeat of the hosts in the league encounter earlier this season. Hotly partisan the home crowd might be, but they still turned out in decent numbers despite the weather, to support their team and offered great hospitality to the visitors.
An integral part of any match report would be an update of the runners and riders, changes and so on. In an ideal world, the same names would grace the team sheet week in week out. Fate, injuries, work and Christmas shopping commitments will inevitably enforce changes and the rotation of existing and new squad entrants, will keep this section buzzing with news.

Starting with the backs, Josh Seal made a welcome return to Inside Centre and Callum Findlay, guesting on the Wing again. On the bench was a welcome back to the fray for Ed Challis, one to watch for the future and Peter Taylor, hoping that no forwards took a dive. In the pack, Jonty Lister returned from a holiday absence and the club and City of Ripon gave a very happy and long awaited welcome for the return of South African Dudley Stead, the overseas signing of three seasons ago. Both made a dramatic impression on the game in set piece and loose and with forwards of such athleticism and capability, the rest of the season is looking bright.

Ripon received the initial kick off with Barker taking the ball in space and ploughing on a good few yards. The forwards covering well at the breakdown allowed Watkinson to loft the high ball and force the defensive error. The dropped catch was a bonus for Ripon to test their new look scrum without Wolloms and Sadler. Greenwood and Gilchrist held firm to create the platform for Stead to launch the first of his many drives up the middle of the pitch. From the eventual stoppage, Ripon recycled left, to release Tom Leeming up the left wing. Leeming, perhaps the unluckiest of the Ripon backs; in that he creates so many openings and shuts down the opposition so well; but doesn’t get close to the score board often; kicked deftly forward from hands, to line up Euan Findlay for the skilful dribble over the line to touch down for Ripon’s first try at two and a half minutes. Patrick Whitaker added the conversion to take the score to 0 – 7 with less than three minutes played.

Barnsley countered directly from the restart to hold Ripon in their 22 metre area for the next few plays and got as close as crossing the Ripon line at 7 minutes played. Adjudged held-up, the 5 metre scrum saw a quick series of passes to the dangerous looking Barnsley Fijian outside Centre. Whilst quick on his feet and elusive going forward, he and his fellow countryman were found to be sadly lacking in their ability to pass, or tackle as the game went on. With the final pass of this move only finding touch, Ripon were let off with a line out put in. The visitors messed up the crucial receipt, but due to an ineffective attack by the hosts, Ripon were able to clear their lines with a 22 metre drop-out.
Pursuing play deep into the home half, Ripon forced a number of errors that took them close enough for Whitaker to attempt a penalty goal at the full extent of his range. Unfortunately it just drifted wide to keep the score as it was.

The next few minutes saw both sides attempting to run everything and exert some form of control. There was no dominance either way in the scrums and Ripon need to think on as to how they were going to recover their early season prowess to create the necessary platform. There was on this occasion, no problem with securing their own possession and the hint of a nudge on the opposition put ins. Thus, sufficient inertia to launch Stead on many a break, but if only he could have been launched from the scrums of a few weeks ago, what damage might have been done?

Exciting for Ripon was Harrison’s counter attack from a deep kick by Barnsley. Despite his slight frame, Rob Harrison packs a mean punch. Safe hands under the high ball, rock solid in the tackle and then an elusive and speedy machine in attack. The key difference between the Ripon and Barnsley back divisions was that the Ripon squad emphatically played as a team; stuck to key lines of attack and predicted support, whereas the Barnsley backs looked too much to the Fijians to get them out of trouble. With completely erratic running lines and poor passing skills; admittedly if they got through the defence they could score, but if they were shut down, they proved ineffective.
At 23 minutes, Harrison again led an attack to release Tom Leeming down the left wing. Leeming kicked on and regathered well to set up a series of interchanges, which saw skipper Barker plunge over for Ripon’s second try. Whitaker adder the conversion to put Ripon in the driving seat at 0 – 14.

Into the second quarter and with Barnsley into their second wind, the encounter saw many evenly matched exchanges, with the hosts stringing together some more penetrating attacks. Both sides were guilty of indiscipline at the breakdown, in what was developing into a fast and furious match. Ripon’s total penalty count of 17 was far too many and with Barnsley guilty of almost as many, there is much to learn. With both teams losing two players each to the sin bin, more though needs to be given to how referees are played. Barnsley at one point had two players sin binned and yet Ripon failed to capitalise. And the final minutes of the game saw this position reversed.
So at the 30 minute mark, Barnsley took advantage of yet another Ripon indiscretion and from a penalty touch kick, drove from the line out. Ripon defended admirably to force a turnover, but shortly after advantage was given as over, Barnsley then restored some order by shipping the ball quickly to the right, allowing their Fijian Winger to dance around three tackle attempts to open the scoring for the hosts. The failed conversion left the score at 5 – 14 for the time being.

After a run of open play, at 34 minutes and breaking any dominance the hosts were trying to establish, Whitaker slotted over a penalty from 40 metres to increase the lead to 5 – 17.

In the dying moments of the half, Barnsley were offered another penalty opportunity, which they kicked to touch. From the following line out, a short drive saw the ball released quickly to the left and again their Winger showed electrifying pace and agility to dance around would be tacklers, to score Barnsley’s second try. The failed conversion attempt heralded the half time whistle and left Ripon just in the driving seat at 10 – 17.

The second half kicked off in very uninspiring style for Ripon, with an immediate advantage to the opposition. Barnsley pressed on and caused Ripon some defensive difficulties to lead to a penalty for not rolling away in the tackle at just 3 minutes into the half. The easy goal attempt was taken for Barnsley to narrow the gap to 13 – 17.

The next ten minutes saw both sides looking to find weaknesses in the opposition. The Ripon scrum held firm, but not dominant and the Ripon line out, gave some good quality possession from Lister, Barker and Britton. In the loose, Findlay and Stead hunted and destroyed in defence and made great ground in attack. Ripon seemed to be gaining dominance towards the end of the first quarter and after a succession of penalties found themselves hammering on the home goal line. Two successive penalty scrums saw Ripon start to gain some “go forward” and finally release Dudley Stead to break through two tackles and score their third try. Whitaker calmly added the conversion to take the score further ahead to 13 – 24.

By no means laying down, Barnsley retaliated well from the restart to put the visitors under similar pressure and soon Ripon were back in deep defence. Giving away needless penalties, Ripon however defended well against repeated onslaughts, with the visitors’ line being crossed twice in as many minutes. The second 5 metre scrum saw Barnsley go for the wide option and again, through sleight of hand and fancy footwork, with their Winger scoring their third try out wide to the left. Fortunately the conversion attempt missed, to make the score 18 – 24.
At the start of the final quarter came perhaps Ripon’s seminal moment and one that set them apart from their previous performances this season. From a deep kick into Ripon territory, Tom Leeming gathered and set off at pace up the left touchline. Encountering opposition, Leeming offered the ball to Lister, quick in support. With Gazelle like pace, Lister made a full 20 metres before unselfishly offloading to the ever present Euan Findlay to batter his way home for Ripon’s fourth and final try to take the score to 18 – 29, Whitaker narrowly missing his chance for a further 100% game record.

The final few minutes of the game saw a flurry of indiscretions by Ripon, so serious as to warrant the despatch of Barker and Whitaker, yellow carded for a high tackle and not retiring 10 metres respectively. So, with a two player advantage, Barnsley did their best to close the game down. Finally realising their dominance in the scrum, the hosts pushed to camp on the Ripon line for the closing stages of the game and were rewarded with a final converted try in the last play of the game to make the score a respectable 25 – 29.

Both sides could undoubtedly claim a number of things that might have made the score different. Whatever the opposition say, the Ripon response simply has to be to reduce the penalty count and keep 15 players on the pitch for the whole game.

Overall, a good win to Ripon to set up for the next league and trophy encounters. Discipline, fitness and player availability remain issues, but not insurmountable.

Next Saturday, Ripon return to Yorkshire Division Two league action and entertain Leodiensians, who have been experiencing less favourable fortunes for a while now. Hoping for a sporting encounter with old friends and rivals, Ripon will however be looking for a second win and a kick start to their attack on the league rankings. This will be by no means a forgone conclusion, so the Blues will need to be disciplined and ruthless throughout the game. Kick off at Mallorie Park at 2.15, all supporters and potential sponsors continue to be very welcome.