1st XV Match Report Saturday 15th November 2014

As a law associated with clumps of earth would have it: a home game, a sizeable crowd potentially swelled by a significantly well attended sponsor’s lunch and reasonably clement weather; this should have been the perfect occasion for a resurgence by a “nearly, but not quite”, Ripon side, in front of an audience of the local movers and shakers as well as a cross section of the Club’s past playing members. It would appear however, that the prospect of eighty minutes’ worth of nail biting, entertaining, end to end battles of attrition to determine a clear winner, was confined to the 100 + people who remained in the bar to watch another autumn international, rather than the 1st XV’s critically important game. Bar profits aside, when the premier playing side of the Club is up against the wall and trying everything to get the right results on the pitch and there are more people in the bar watching an unimportant game, something is wrong. Even more wrong, when the throng of international viewers doesn’t make any move to accommodate the visiting teams as they attempt to access their customary complementary post-match meals and then jockey for position to eat standing up. It would appear that the fact that the Club’s primary purpose for opening on Saturday, was for two teams to enjoy a live game of Rugby and enjoy some post match hospitality in the bar afterwards, was a bit lost this week.

Oh well, another week or so of “autumn fever” before we knuckle down to the gritty job of supporting our Club through what must be one of the least successful periods of the last few years. Hopefully next week’s 1st XV away game won’t interfere too much with the television watchers’ afternoon and any sides that do play at home will have the decency to stay out of the way until the televised match is over. Hopefully also, the vast array of Ripon faithful, might consider arranging to record any internationals whilst live games are going on at the club, so that spectators can support the Club’s teams on the pitches and then the whole Club, players, supporters, sponsors and casual visitors, could all watch the internationals together later. Food for thought, possibly even with food from Mike?

So and it’s always a very wrong way to start a sentence; to the point of this report. In the inimitable words of a referee at the half time break of a recent league game, who said, “Another hard day at the office”; this was another of those games that could have and should have resulted in a Ripon victory. Small consolation in maintaining our position perilously outside of the relegation zone by gaining yet another losing bonus point, it is still very much a matter of nearly, but not quite for the valiant 1st XV. It is also a matter of sticking with a group of players who understand what is needed of them and who understand how important it is to the Club to improve its playing fortunes. Keep up the good work lads, we will get the right results soon.

As far as the game was concerned, we lost and it was not particularly entertaining from any perspective. Leos started strongly, dominated the set piece initially, though it all evened up eventually and apart from the blindingly obvious fact that Leos won, neither side dominated in any area of the game. Interestingly though, had it not been for some refereeing decisions that kept three Ripon players off the field of play for some thirty minutes and had the two sides been evenly matched for the whole of the game, things might have been different. It was however, what it was and so in a generally lack lustre game, which could really have done with some vocal and enthusiastic support from the touchline, again Ripon had to make do with a single point.

There were some interesting passages of play that allowed Leos to score three tries to Ripon’s one – a great effort from Dud Stead as he barrelled over from a 5 metre scrum for an emphatic push over try. Evergreen Half Back Bob Whitaker added the conversion to his first half penalty to keep the score respectable. Apart from that and the score-line shows it, Leos won the first half and Ripon won the second.

This weekend then, Ripon are on the road again, this time to an in form Moortown, who were it not for their 20 point deduction at the start of the season for an administrative irregularity, would be chasing the promotion fanciers. That aside, Ripon know they have the personnel, the firepower, the preparation and the backing of great following supporters. All they need is the confidence and application to use their talents wisely, incrementally stamp their authority on the game and play like they mean it for eighty minutes.

For the die-hard supporters, and we do hope that they keep up the great work again this week, it will be a 12.00 meet at Ripon RFC in time to depart for a 2.15 kick off. Again all travelling support is more than welcome.