Ripon 2xv v Old Brodlieans 2xv

Today's game against Old Brodelians was always going to be a test to see how far the Hornblowers have come and how much depth there is in a resurgent Ripon squad. Again with no 3rd team game this week that meant we had a full 20 players with a mixture of 2nd and 3rd teams players. With a few injuries within the 1st team this saw Bob Whitaker called up to travel to Thornensians, which meant James Blood having to step into scrum half.

The first half was very much a battle for supremacy as each side attacked with pace and strength and defended with determination and heart. Old Brodelians game plan was simple and very effective with a number of attacks around the rucks and in particular at our fly half channel. Richard Hooks must have wondered what he had done wrong to receive all this attention, however with a fast Ripon back row they defended well, putting in some big hits to stop attacks. I lost count on the number of tackles made by Sam Duffield, Elliot Oates and Jack Newby. Ripon in reply attempted to go wide at every opportunity but were thwarted by a structured defence. In the 33rd minute the tide finally broke as the Old Brods put in a number of well worked forward phases and then attacked wide to score against a scrambling Ripon defence. Half time score 0:7 to Old Brods.

The second half saw Simon Williamson slotting in at no 8, Jake Botting into back row and Elliot Fearn onto the wing. The game restarted with the same intensity as the first and it only took a drop in concentration for a second for Old Brods to burst through the Ripon line like an erupting volcano to score a converted try. Again Ripon responded well attacking at every opportunity and on another day may have scored at least 2 tries. With Old Brods on the back foot came one of those moments in rugby that defy logic. From a lineout just inside the Ripon 22 and with the line forming the Old Brod hooker passed in a quick ball that never went anywhere near the five meter line for them to score, leaving the Ripon forwards looking at the referee waiting for him to call it back. Just one of those things that happens and something to learn from. This galvanised the Ripon team who spent the next 20 minutes within the oppositions half putting in attack after attack. After a large number of penalties, all within the so called red zone, and a player yellow carded for tackling the Ripon scrum half a second after taking a quick penalty tap (taking one for his team), saw Ripon threatening to score. This finally came after some strong rucking and a fast ball out to Elliot Fearn coming off his wing to pass wide to Joe Duffield to strike through the defensive line to score under the posts. The last 5 minutes had Ripon attacking with the Old Brods trusting in their defence and when the final whistle came both team knew they had been a good, tough and fair game.

Although the final score was 7:19 the margins between these two teams was narrow with the result going to the team with more maturity in making the right decisions at critical moments. The Hornblowers should be proud of a performance that shows their determination and desire to play attacking rugby, which can only be good for a growing squad of players competing for 1st team honours. To single out any player today would be wrong as they all put in their best, however man of the match went to Sam Duffield who put in some big tackles all over the pitch, it was also his birthday. Next week see the Hornblowers head off to Keighley, yet another tough place to go, and hopefully get back to winning ways. The 3rd team are at home in a local derby vs Wensleydale so lets make sure we get 3 full teams out this week and maybe our first 'blue rinse' of the season. Please let Andy Williamson know of your availability soon as possible, even if it's a maybe.