When Chairman Briggs took the time to make contact from his New York business assignment, moments before kick-off, it had a number of impacts. First of all, was what a magnificent time keeper he must be, to text yours truly at the precise moment he was wandering across the pitch with two crates of water and two first aid bags. Secondly a testament to the devotion to office of our leader. On hearing the half time score of 7 – 22, Chairman Briggs commented that “it could be a game of two halves”. It was just that and Ripon lost the first and won the second.

In summer like conditions and with a good blend of youth and experience throughout the squad, this looked like a Ripon team that would rise to the challenge of Wetherby’s impressive playing record and maybe even return to winning ways after last week’s shock defeat. Unfortunately, despite consistent amounts of good, clean possession, Ripon were not able to make much of an impression on the scoreboard and again, poor defence let the opposition in for more scores than they should have.

Not all bad by any means; with Taylor Junior impressing up front with his work rate and Scull and Seal trying pretty much every trick in the book to break the deadlock, this was just an unfortunate day on which the opposition’s try line seemed unattainable for long periods. Basic errors thwarted attack after attack and sloppy defence allowed too many counter attacks to succeed. To Wetherby’s credit, they played to their strengths and kept the play tight when necessary and let the ball out to their speedy backs at the right moment. Ripon to their credit, scrummaged much better this week and had a strong line out that took a few of the opposition’s throw ins as well as all of their own ball.

The writing appeared on the wall from Wetherby’s opening kick off, which Ripon fumbled to give the ball back to the opposition, from the ensuing breakdown Wetherby’s Lock Forward powered though the Ripon pack like skittles, to create a further ruck from which the visitors scored. Try and conversion within two minutes.

Ripon kicked off to restart and immediately Wetherby took the ball back into the Ripon half and through a series of drives, scored a further converted try on the six minute mark. At 0 – 14 within six minutes, this looked like it was going to be a very long day at the office, for Ripon, but they eventually composed themselves and fought back into Wetherby territory. At sixteen minutes, Ripon pressed the visitors’ line with two penalty kicks to touch. The first catch and drive fizzled out, but the second was more organised. The ensuing maul trundled towards the line allowing Taylor Senior to plunge over to open the score for Ripon. Tombling made no mistake of the conversion and now it looked like a game.

The tide turned at 20 minutes with a penalty goal from Wetherby and then at 30 minutes; after a sustained Ripon attack, a fumble let Wetherby break out against the run of play, to score a further unconverted try. At half time, the mood was buoyant and the score line of 7 – 22 didn’t look daunting at all.

The second half was more evenly matched with perhaps Ripon gaining the lion’s share of possession. Penalty goals were traded, Tombling at eleven minutes and a reply from Wetherby at 20 minutes into the half. Ripon then narrowed the gap in the scores in the 36th minute after a sustained period of attacks. Some brutal driving forward play saw Dalby released to crash over to score for Ripon, taking the score to within a sniff of a losing bonus point and maybe even a win. Scull added the conversion, so all was not lost at that point.

Shouldn’t have spoken too soon though as a final push by Ripon in the 44th minute resulted in a fumble and yet another Wetherby breakout to score a further unconverted try on the final whistle.

A disappointing end to a game that Ripon should very much have won. Two lessons that need to be learned from; more precision is needed in looking after the ball and defence needs to step up to last season’s standard. Hopefully the squad will rally on the training field and work out a better performance for next week.

Next week, Ripon travel to newly promoted Thornensians for their first 1st XV encounter for many years. Thorne, will be looking to build on their promotion success and recent poor form and Ripon will definitely be wanting to return to winning ways. All support welcome as usual, travelling times to be published, kick off will be 3.00pm