When things get tough, expressions such as “not as bad as”, spring to mind. The only “not as bad as”, for this this season that springs to mind, is the 53 – 0 reverse fixture back in September, which saw Ripon on the receiving end of a severe drubbing and the only game in which Ripon have failed to score a point. So, not as bad as 53 – 0, but not as good as the recent form of the team promised and certainly not as good as the expectation that the team would give the opposition a run for their money for a full 80 minutes.

Judging by the first half performances, the gulf between the two sides was not apparent. Ripon matched if not dominated in the set piece and played a sound game of parry and riposte. Apart from a minor factor of the score-line standing at 3 – 16 at half time, one could be forgiven for thinking that Ripon, with their forward power, had a decent chance in the game. It was not to be so and despite some heroic efforts, Keighley demonstrated another level of back play that simply blew Ripon away in the second half. Definitely bigger and more powerful, the visitor’s backs played with cohesion and confidence. They launched attacks with relative ease and put numbers behind and outside the ball to sustain attacks. Critical to their success was a particularly bad tackling day for Ripon. Questions were asked of the usually rock solid Ripon defence and the answer appeared to be bludgeon on through for the visitors.

Not all bad by any means. The Ripon pack played well and caused serious difficulties to the visitors at the scrum and many line outs. Possession was plentiful too, with many attacking options available through close and wide work. All purposeful Ripon attacks however, seemed to get snuffed out, either through sound defence, or simple mistakes. Many Keighley attacks on the contrary, led to scoring opportunities.

Ripon started well and from a scrappy kick off reception recovered sufficiently to push into the visitors’ half. A penalty opportunity at 3 minutes allowed Tombling to take his first and only successful kick at goal of the afternoon. A good ten minutes then passed before Keighley broke out of the Ripon stranglehold. From a scrum, the visitors proceeded to retain possession sufficiently to progress to their first try, which went unconverted. Despite some creative attacking from Ripon through Spilman and Cleary as well as Newcombe and Findlay making the short yards up front, the visitors were gifted with two penalty attempts to nudge the score upwards. A penalty goal was also missed by Keighley and one was missed by Ripon.

Looking to settle into the break with a mere 3 – 11 deficit, Ripon may have taken their foot off the gas in the dying seconds of the half. Keighley seized upon the chance from a broken down Ripon attack and through very poor tackling, allowed the visitors to go into half time with a further unconverted try and an altogether different score to beat of 3 – 16.

Despite a challenging yet supportive team talk at half time, the demeanour of the team changed in the second half and despite some good ball winning endeavours, every time the Keighley backs started running with the ball, they created havoc. Missed tackles and misread opportunities were commonplace and so Keighley ran in a further five converted tries in the second half.

The efforts of Ripon in attack suggest that there is still much potential in the largely young side. Defensively, this had to be the biggest ask of the team since September. On point throughout the game was Ben Buckley, who consistently nailed anyone approaching him and stifled any attacks on his wing. Fitting therefore that Buckley should add some comfort to the score for Ripon by running in for a try on the 77th minutes after preparatory work by Spilman. Credit to Mark Spilman for his impact on the game, both in defence and attack and commiserations to him for leaving the field in the dying seconds with concussion.

Next week, Ripon take to the road to Halifax to take on Old Rishworthians. A club that has been seriously inconvenienced by the flooding of their ground some weeks ago, but a team that plays with grit and a determination to take them further up the league table. A win on Saturday would place Rishworthians above Ripon and a defeat, keep Ripon in their cherished seventh place.

Travelling spectators for the game will be very welcome as usual. Meet at the club at 12.00 to travel for a 3.00pm kick off.