Any hopes Ripon had of a successful start to their league season were dashed by a spirited and athletic student side, that looked very much in control of their game and stifled any attempts by Ripon to play with any composure. In what became an increasingly frustrating game for Ripon, their pre-season efforts seemed all in vain as Sheffield Medicals competed effectively for possession and defended with vigour and organisation throughout. Often guilty of the wrong options, Ripon had an opportunity to exploit their previously uncharacteristic scrummaging power, but failed to use it as an attacking weapon. Sheffield on the other hand, harassed and pressed hard against all of Ripon’s possession and made the home team fight for every inch of territorial gain. Trying to play an expansive game against such a side was always going to be a tall order, with the students’ counter attacking ability; Ripon however, further compounded their downfall by failing to adjust their game to play to their forwards’ strengths and try and wear the opposition down.

That said, in fine weather and before a moderate crowd, Ripon fielded a side comprising a subtle blend of youth and experience, with some very welcome local students of their own and sought to integrate new players, under a new coaching regime. Trying to build on last week’s Yorkshire Shield defeat to Keighley, Ripon sought to take advantage of the University side’s potential vulnerability at this point of the academic year, to gain some badly needed league points as well as credibility. Experimental it wasn’t, with a frequent reversion to basics, but nevertheless an opportunity for newly acquainted players to get to know each other and bond as a team. It was however a shame that Ripon perhaps underestimated the strength of Sheffield, particularly at this time of the season, when they traditionally are not at full complement.

Ripon’s kick off pretty much set the scene for what was to follow, with unforced errors and poor communications occurring regularly. The kick going straight into touch, allowed Ripon to exert the first of their opportunities to demonstrate dominance in the scrums on the opposition’s put in. Walking over the ball effortlessly, Ripon were however unable to secure decent possession from the base of the scrum and allowed the medics to recover possession and gain the ascendency. The next ten minutes saw the visitors press the home team hard and they were gifted a penalty goal offer, which their Fly Half converted with ease after four minutes. From the restart, the visitors continued to press and seemingly any time a Ripon move broke down, the faster visitors were there to accomplish the turnover. That was pretty much the story for the remainder of the first quarter.

From around the twenty five minute mark, Ripon started to play with some good continuity and organisation. At the half hour mark, a break out from a concerted Medics attack saw May and Sykes interact well to progress far enough up-field to pressurise the visitors into giving away a penalty, which Guy Watkinson slotted over with ease. The remaining exchanges of the first half were fairly even with no further scores.

With a half time score of 3 – 3, there was of course plenty to play for either way and the Ripon players were encouraged during the coach’s team talk to capitalise on the scrum and use their potential forward power to better effect. Ironically, the students, with probably the bigger (and fitter) pack pound for pound; used their mobility to greater effect during what followed and put strong runners into spaces that caused more damage. The first few minutes of the second half were reminiscent of the first half, with the visitors pressing hard in attack and making a real nuisance of themselves in defence. So frenetic were the tackle area exchanges that the referee yellow carded a total of three Sheffield players for infringements of either not rolling away, or not releasing. Ripon could have and should have very much capitalised on this advantage, but weren’t able to turn the pressure into points.

Early in the second half Sheffield created the same pressure as in the first and at 43 minutes narrowly missed a penalty kick at goal. Continued pressure soon forced a Ripon safety touch-down which resulted in a visitor’s five metre scrum. Ripon bullied the opposition off the ball, only to experience a scrum half sacking, which gave the ball back to the opposition, which they recycled effectively enough to score the first try of the game. Try converted, it was becoming apparent that Ripon needed to do something about their ball retention and continuity of play. Sheffield however had other thoughts and from their restart, pushed Ripon into another difficult defensive position. A mis-communication between the last two Ripon defenders saw the Medics’ Fly Half intercept a floated pass to run in unopposed for their second try, which he converted with ease.

The fourth quarter of the game gave Ripon the best opportunities to score points and gain a favourable result, so the last ten minutes in particular showed an urgency from the home side to take control of the game. Finally exploiting the overlap opportunity, Ripon attacked through Newby, Sykes and May, to put May in for a try in the corner. Watkinson was just wide with his conversion attempt, but it was all too little too late and the game was in the bag for the visitors.

Given the fact that Ripon had more players on the field than the opposition for much of the game, they have to seriously look at how they exploit the power play opportunities by looking for weaknesses in the opposition rather than relying on individual efforts.

Next week Ripon travel to Barnsley and need to show more confidence and decisiveness to avoid getting into a losing streak. Kick off at Shaw Lane will be 3.00pm and travelling supporters will be very welcome