Ripon proved this week, that they are very capable of dominating several phases of play, creating penetrative attacking openings that can worry opponents significantly and defending solidly and heroically. Ripon proved this week, that the balance of youth and experience in the side is allowing the team to play consistently well, with cohesion and shape, as well as providing pace and enthusiasm to the side at a point in the season where that really matters. Ripon proved this week that concerted physical and emotional efforts by team members playing out of position, can eventually lead to stronger all-round performances and this showed particularly with Ripon’s scrum, which has creaked and crumbled over the past few weeks, but stood up to the pressure admirably this weekend and provided a far more stable platform from which to launch meaningful attacks.

Keighley proved this week, that they had the calibre and fortitude to take everything that Ripon had to throw at them and come away with a creditable win, comprising two tries to none. Keighley also proved this week and this isn’t a new situation for Ripon, that clinically executing scoring chances absolutely must be undertaken. The majority of Keighley’s opportunities to score tries from open play, were snuffed out by solid defence and even the odd turnover. The strength however, of the visitor’s line out catch and drive, was too much for Ripon and was clearly the difference between the two sides. Ripon attempted the same tactic against Keighley on a number of occasions, particularly late in the second half, but were stopped well short and forced into spinning the ball wide from a disadvantageous back-pedalling position.

All Ripon’s points came from the boot of Tom Leeming and an indication of the home team’s sensibility to try and limit; at least judging by the first half’s energy sapping forward exchanges, by going for goal as penalty chances arose.

From the kick off, Keighley pressed Ripon hard and forced them into defending resolutely, with attempts to break out through short runs and clearance kicks. The home team did eventually broke loose at around the ten minute mark and started running the bigger visitors’ forwards around. A penalty chance arose at 11 minutes and Leeming took the three points with perhaps the most economical of kicks ever, just clearing the crossbar.

The next 20 minutes was pretty evenly matched. Ripon probed and sniped and Keighley used the more direct route; neither of which was successful in gaining points. There was however a stir of excitement, every time the likes of Ben Buckley and Tom Leeming got the ball on their respective wings, and Joe Duffield never failed to please when running the counter attacks from Full Back.

Up front, Euan Findlay played his usual medley of ferocious tackling, turnovers and close order support to irritate the opposition immensely and recent returnee to the squad Ashley Plant contributed effectively in both tight and loose play.

After pretty much end to end play, towards the end of the first half, Ripon seemed to be gaining the advantage overall and at 33 minutes when a visitor was yellow carded for killing the ball, Tom Leeming stepped up and slotted a further penalty goal to take Ripon into half time with a 6 – 0 lead.

The second half restart saw Keighley storming out of the blocks to press Ripon deep into their 22 metre area. Repeated attempts to clear their lines eventually saw Ripon fall foul of the referee and a penalty to Keighley for a Ripon defender not rolling away in the tackle, gave them a chance to kick for touch close to the home goal line. The ensuing line out saw a text book catch and drive, for which Ripon had no answer but to delay it momentarily. The touching down of the ball for the try on the here minute mark was a formality and the added conversion saw the visitors edge ahead 6 – 7.

Thereafter the second half closely resembled the first. Ripon sought to create openings through Under 18 Fly Half George Foster and the experience of Inside Centre Mark Spilman and with plenty of enthusiastic back up, some lively and exciting attacks followed. Keighley similarly exploited their chances and played a varied game in trying wide and tight options. It was however the tight options that saw the visitors exploit their weight and experience to advantage in the forwards to punish Ripon with some driving mauls that gave them significant territorial advantage as the game went on.

At the 65 minute mark, a Keighley indiscretion gave Leeming the chance to put Ripon in the lead. But his kick didn’t quite have the legs. At the 70 minute mark however, sustained pressure from Ripon put them close enough to take advantage of a penalty goal opportunity. Leeming casually nudged Ripon in front 9 – 7. The cheers resounded around Mallorie Park as if the game was won.
Then followed a period of play in which Ripon should have absolutely closed the game down. From the restart after the penalty goal, Ripon pressed relentlessly and forced Keighley in to a number of defensive errors. Penalties arose and Ripon opted for the touch kick on two occasions. On both, the planned catch and drive just didn’t get going through resolute Keighley defence. The momentum of any advantage Ripon had then, was just snuffed out.

Clearing their lines from some narrow escapes, the visitors weren’t having any more of Ripon’s attacking and unleashed a further onslaught on the Ripon line from their own 22 metre area. Pushing up field through driving forward play, Keighley forced Ripon into some last – ditch defensive actions until a cruel blow was delivered at 77 minutes. A penalty goal attempt by Keighley for Ripon killing the ball was narrowly missed. Outside Centre Rob Harrison fielded the miss-kick and gamely attempted to chip and chase from within his own 22 metre area. Keighley, wise to the threat of the counter attack fielded the ball well enough to set their Winger rampaging down the left touchline. The following tackle and ruck saw an unfortunate decision levelled at veteran Lock Andy Williamson for preventing release, for which he was yellow carded. Predictably Keighley opted for their winning formula and tapped the ball into touch for the line out. The catch and drive was another text book execution in exactly the same place as the earlier one and had exactly the same outcome. Try scored. The conversion was narrowly missed and so the score remained 9 – 12 to the final whistle.

Another massive team effort from Ripon, who have clearly taken the survival challenge seriously and yet still look like they have more to give. There are some gritty games coming up, that apart from those teams obviously in the relegation zone, everyone will want to win. With the likes of Knottingley and Old Rishworthians away coming up, Ripon absolutely must tighten up their forward play to press home developing advantages at the scrum and options from the line out as well as countering the driving maul and line out catch and drive.

The next week sees Ripon play host to newly promoted Yorkshire Division One side and old friends, Yarnbury in a friendly game, which both sides are looking to use as an opportunity where possible to look at a wider range of players with development potential. All support welcome as usual, to come and cheer the side along. Kick off 2.15.

League action returns on Saturday 21st February, when Ripon travel to Knottingley, who will be keen to further enhance their already admirable home record.