1st XV Match Report Saturday 6th September 2014

Ripon traveled to North Leeds for the opening game of the season proper, with a couple of changes from last week’s Yorkshire Shield encounter, but despite that, air of confidence from their solid performance. In horrible conditions of persistent rain,
it was never going to be a spectacle, but the home team managed the conditions and the referee far more effectively and won the day. Ripon started well, but failed to establish any authority on any aspects of the game and their forward dominance from the previous week simply wasn't there.

The Rounghegians pack competed effectively at the breakdown and line out, didn’t give an inch in the scrums and were disruptive enough all round to prevent Ripon from gaining much in the way of clean possession. Starved of any decent ball throughout the game, Ripon’s only reply to the relentless pressure from the home team was two spectacular tries, both as a result of incisive counter attacks from in-form Joe Duffield and ably finished off by Rob Harrison. Ken Davey stepped gamely into the number 10 berth for the fixture and added a penalty goal and one conversion to make the score more respectable, but it was not enough to counter the dominance of the home forwards, who made their mark on all phases of play.

In total, Roundhegians visited the Ripon 22 metre area six times and on each occasion they scored. Five tries conceded by Ripon included three line out catch-and-drives, which worked like clockwork, two from the five metre mark and one from as far out as 15 metres. The other Roundhegian’s scores came from an early encounter into the Ripon half, which saw indecision turned into five points and the final blow was cruelly dealt from a Ripon attack, which saw a loose chip gathered cleanly by a Roundhegian back to run 60 metres unopposed for a converted try. If the home team’s goal kicker had been on his usual form, the score-line would have looked a lot more depressing.

Negatives aside, the two Ripon scores were breathtakingly simple in their execution and showed the considerable firepower in the team. In two almost carbon-copy counter-attacks, Full Back Joe Duffield injected great pace and agility into the line to leave the opposition standing. Perfect running angles, timing and text book passing on both occasions, put Mercurial runner Rob Harrison in for a brace of tries. Given a more consistent flow of clean possession, it is clear that Ripon have the ability to break the opposition and score efficiently and spectacularly.

The Ripon team at present is a subtle blend of youth and experience and with a number of key players still unavailable for various reasons, there is still much hope for a more stable season. The younger players are showing great potential and with the support of their more experienced team mates will come good soon.

Ripon continue their Yorkshire Division Two duties again on Saturday September 13th with their first home game of the season to Sheffield Medicals, who narrowly avoided promotion last season and will promise an entertaining afternoon. Kick off 3.00pm and all support welcome.