1st XV Match Report - 17th December 2016

Despite an enthusiastic pre-match warm up and much enthusiasm about revenge for the defeat earlier in the season; maybe perhaps the lack of numbers of players attending training during the week, or perhaps minds were on the forthcoming festivities, Ripon just failed to do anything sufficient to win this game. No excuses need to be made about personnel, or positional changes. The squad has shown incredible flexibility and adaptability in adjusting to necessary changes in previous games and apart from the addition of debutant Prop Daniel Askew, everybody knew each other well.

Hats off to Wetherby, who exploited Ripon’s uncharacteristic weakness in the scrums; scored a bonus point earning four tries by aggressively pressing home their attacks and tackled like demons, thus effectively shutting down the Blues’ running game. To be fair to Ripon, there were glimpses of brilliance and opportunities were taken to put the hosts under pressure, but not many attacks were sustainable and continuity foundered.

Wetherby will also take some comfort from the day’s other league action, which saw them leapfrog Roundhegians to fifth place and within one point of Ripon’s tenuous grip on fourth place.

The hosts started the game with a kick off two metres short of the required distance, but with the referee seemingly disinterested in any disadvantage to Ripon, allowed play on. One could have been forgiven for one of those “here we go again” moments, but as the game progressed, the administration of the game was made relatively easy, as both sides sought to play a relatively disciplined and progressive game. Apart of course from the two yellow cards issued to Ripon for one disputed offence and another blatant display of over-enthusiasm. Not taking anything away from Wetherby, but playing with only 14 men for twenty minutes of the game, must have helped them get into their groove and keep Ripon out of theirs.

Back to the initial exchanges and it soon became obvious that the Wetherby scrum was going to take some getting used to; as was their whole team’s commitment in the tackle. It might be argued that despite challenges throughout other areas of the game, Ripon were particularly poor in the tackle and a shadow of their former selves in performances against the likes of Moortown and Pontefract.
Wetherby opened the scoring at seven minutes after pressing the visitors’ line with two five metre scrums. From the second scrum, the home attack went right and through intensive recycling at three ensuing rucks, Wetherby split the fragile defence and opened the scoring with a converted try.

The next 10 minutes were spent with both sides testing each other and Ripon found themselves forcing errors and subsequent penalties against Wetherby. Successive penalties to touch saw Ripon claw their way into home territory. A further home indiscretion at 20 minutes gave Tim Tombling the opportunity to open the scoring for Ripon with a penalty goal.

Ripon tried hard to get back into the game after the restart, but the defensive organisation of the hosts stifled many attacking movements. Eventually getting some quality possession on the half hour mark, Wetherby smashed a couple of Ripon scrums forcing them into their own half. Despite a brave pick from the base of a backpedalling scrum by Britton and some yards made, the home back row effected a turnover from the breakdown. Quick hands saw the home Tight Head Prop given sufficient space to not bludgeon his way through as expected, but to poke a perfect grub kick through the first line of defence. Confusion as to whether to touch down for safety, or kick the ball dead, gifted Wetherby with their second try and Ripon looking not very well organised. The conversion from the touchline added to Ripon’s misery and with a further penalty goal at 32 minutes, Wetherby went in to half time with a comfortable 17 – 3 lead.

Despite impassioned discussions at half time about presenteeism and commitment, the second half was more of the same, with Wetherby increasing their lead by a further two unconverted tries. Losing Findlay after the first minute of the half was bad enough, but then Hockey taking his place in the sin bin after only two minutes as a replacement, was hard for Ripon to recover from. Down to 14 players for 20 minutes, gave the hosts sufficient advantage in the scrum and at the breakdown to prevent Ripon from playing with any purpose.

A further Wetherby try came from the hosts disrupting a Ripon counter attack and despite the missed conversion, nudged the score ever further away from Ripon. As has often been the case this season, Ripon set about a late resurgence and played with some purpose and style, now reinstated to 15 players. Nearing the end of full time, a penalty to Ripon gave an opportunity for a penalty touch kick. The line out catch and drive worked really effectively and despite some attempts to disrupt the progress of the driving maul, the final touchdown was achieved by Matthew Taylor. Tombling added the conversion from the touchline, adding a more decent look to the final score line of 27 – 10.

Ripon now have a two week break, in which to lick their wounds and to firm up the playing plans for the rest of the season. Returning to action on 7th January, Ripon entertain Thornensians and must aspire to improving not only on recent form, but also gaining more than a one point advantage over this opposition as was the result back in September.
May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers, players and members a very Merry Christmas and a happy and Prosperous New Year.