Match Report Saturday 13th September 2014

Keen to avenge last season’s double defeat, Ripon also entered this game as pundit’s favourite, in a “now or never” encounter. Knowing the vulnerability of the students at this stage of the season and with a solid line up combining youth and experience; the Mallorie Park outfit set out to take play to the opposition from the outset. Also knowing that it was just a matter of time before the Ripon set-piece started to deliver effective first phase possession from which to launch incisive back line attacks; the home team capitalised on their weight and experience advantage over the opposition. That’s not to say, as the score-line shows, that the Medics rolled over. Not by a long chalk and the tenacity of the students took Ripon the full 80 minutes and with the opposition scoring three tries in the second half, the game was closer than at first thought.

Ripon received the first kick off well and set about using their forwards to good effect, making the hard yards. The first few minutes however, were indecisive as much of the play stayed around midfield. Sheffield took the initiative at around 10 minutes into the game with a series of attacks that saw them offered a penalty goal opportunity which saw them on the scoreboard first with three points. At the same time and unrelated to the penalty, Ripon were dealt a cruel blow by the loss of influential Lock, Iain Barker with a broken nose. Hopefully this won’t keep him away for too long, but with his departure, Ripon’s line out looked far less stable.

A Ripon side of any of the last two seasons would have let their heads drop, but this team rallied to turn pressure in points and started to use the powerful scrummage to good effect and as a launch pad for successive attacks. At 17 minutes, Wing Joe Duffield used his incisive pace to counter from a loose kick. Having made the break, he put Rob Harrison through to make another 20 yards before rapid recycling from the ruck saw evergreen Full Back Jason Bell screaming for the short ball. The try was a formality and Ken Davey slotted the conversion easily.

The rest of the first half saw Ripon dominate the scrums and the Medics picking off the line outs. Ripon were however far more creative with the ball and through excellent carrying by Ashley Plant and Adam Newcombe, were able to make many gain-line crosses to incrementally increase the score. In almost a repeat of the first try, a breakdown 10 metres from the Visitors’ line saw quick recycling and on this occasion, Fly Half Ollie Stirk saw the chance to offer the dummy and cross the line unopposed for Ripon’s second Try. Davey added the conversion. Ripon continued to press and for the last 10 minutes of the half were camped in the visitors’ 22 metre area. The pressure soon told and the Medics’ right Wing was yellow carded for obstructing Joe Duffield in a kick and chase that would surely have resulted in a try. Confused as to why a penalty try wasn’t awarded, Ripon opted for the scrum. Despite the weight and technique advantage, Ripon couldn’t get the necessary momentum to cross the line and were upset at having to reset three times. On the third attempt, Ripon spun the ball out wide to counter the defensive cluster looking for the push over attempt or back row move. Quick hands saw Rob Harrison cross for his third try of the season with Davey again adding the conversion. Turning around 21 – 3, Ripon looked the more motivated of the two teams and maybe thought the game was in the bag.

The second half started well with a superb textbook example of drawing the opposition and passing. From the kick off reception, Stirk put Bell away for a probing run that outpaced the opposition and with perfect precision, Bell put Wing Craig Sykes in for a 30 metre run in, strongly outpacing two defenders. Davey added his final conversion of the game before taking a break with a groin strain. After that, it was almost a reversal of the first half, with the Medics exploiting their fitness and willingness to play to the death. Tiring slightly up front, Ripon sought to slow the pace of the game to run the students into the ground. What happened though was that the Medics exploited defensive mis-matches and ran in three tries, two of which were converted and making the score-line much more respectable for them. Ollie Stirk, Ripon’s man of the match, assumed kicking duties in Davey’s absence and slotted over a penalty goal at 52 minutes to put the score out of reach of the opposition. Despite a last minute converted try from the Medics in which their Wing was well in touch, though their Touch Judge was poorly placed to see and the Referee, also poorly placed to see, allowed; Ripon ran out happy winners with a well-earned 5 points and positive expectations for their next game.

Ripon continue their Yorkshire Division Two duties on Saturday September 20th away at a buoyant West Leeds and looking to build on this solid performance to improve their league standing. Team and supporters are meeting at 12.30pm at Ripon RFC, to travel for a kick off at 3.00pm and all support welcome.