Ripon win again

With no 3rd team game on this week, this gave a few players an opportunity to travel to Bradford & Bingley on a very hot September afternoon. After a warm welcome by the home team the Ripon boys started their warm up on a very lush 1st team pitch. The game started very positively for Ripon with the first try coming within 5 minutes after some quick hands by the backs put Joe Duffield into the corner. Ripon's plan to play a fast expansive game was rewarded in the 12th minute when after some great forward and backs play released Finley Lawrence to score in the opposite corner to put Ripon 10:0 up. Bradford & Bingley responded with determination and character with the rest of the first half becoming an arm wrestle to gain dominance. The home team where rewarded with a very well worked try just before half time after a fast counter attack. The hot conditions were starting to take there toll on players with the referee giving a number of welcome water breaks throughout the half. With a few substitutes on the sideline the Ripon coach had some options to keep players fresh with changes at prop between Ed Rawson and the returning Paul Bake after a long time out due to injury. Also changes at fullback with Simon Williamson coming on after Joe Duffield who ran himself into the ground after 20 minutes.

With the score at the start of the second half being 10:7, Ripon knew they would be in for a very tough 40 minutes and changed their game plan to tie in the opposition. Ben Gemmel made an instant impact coming on at half time with a number of breaking runs down the middle exposing some space. This lead to a great line break by Callum Lawrence who scored under the posts which was then converted by Bob Whitaker. Again Bradford & Bingley responded with a try of their own to narrow the score to 17:14 to Ripon. The next 15 minutes saw some great attacking and defence from both teams with the hot weather finally making an impact on players with a number of changes from both teams. The defining point of the match came when Joe Duffield scored 2 tries in the space of 4 minutes to stretch the lead to 31:14. The last 10 minutes consisted of Bradford & Bingley on the defence making some hard tackles to keep Ripon out, however with Ben Gemmel scoring after 70 minutes and Simon Williamson driving over in the 79th minute meant the final score was 45:14.

Players that stood out today; Bob Whitaker at scrum half and showing he has not lost his kicking boots from last season with 5 out of 7 conversions. Also as Craig Wolloms was called up to the 1st team this gave Elliot Oates an opportunity to lead the pack with a clinical performance. A final word must go to Joe Duffield who had to be substituted after 20 minutes and then came back on to score 2 more tries, which would have been 3 if he hadn't run over the dead ball line. Man of the match goes to Billy Burgin who once again was at every ruck and had some great breaking runs, we may have found his natural position as Hooker.

Next week the Hornblowers are at home against Old Brodleians with the 3rd team away against York. Please make an effort to get to training this week and let Andy Williamson, via Facebook, know of your availability.