RIPON 2ND AWAY VS YARNBURY 3RD 29 OCTOBER 2016

With not enough players to get a 3rd team out this week meant that Ripon 2nds went to Yarnbury
with a full 5 subs and on paper a strong team. After a string of close loses they were determined to
getting back to winning ways and came out of the blocks with speed and pace. Unfortunately for
Ripon the oppositions game plan was to cause as much disruption as possible and slow the game
down. Despite this Ripon tried to keep a high tempo and on the 15 minute mark scrum half Bob
Whitaker took a quick tap penalty on the 5 meter line to pop the ball out to Jonty Lister to drive
over, all whilst the opposition were complaining to the referee. Yarnbury where quick to respond
and scored a converted try from the restart after some clever, if cynical, play when the outside
centre wrapped up his opposite number to create some space for his back line. Unfortunately for
Ripon the referee can only give what he sees. The remaining half became increasing frustrating for
Ripon as the opposition gave numerous penalties without the referee taking further action. To be
fair to the referee by the time the whistle blew for half time he could have yellow carded a number
of players from both sides but was trying to keep the game flowing. The half ended with 2 more
tries to Yarnbury and a penalty from Bob Whitaker to make the score 17:8 to Yarnbury.

The half time talk revolved around ensuring players maintained their discipline and had belief in
their own game plan. With 5 subs Ripon were able to bring on fresh legs and this started to tell as
the game slowly swung towards them. Tom Leeming, coming back after a few weeks away,
showed he has lost none of his speed and hit some great lines from the wing and was denied at
least 2 tries by some very strong tackling. Jonny Stores-dale and debutante Andrew Brown came
on to give the pack some fresh legs and started to drive the opposition of their own ball at scrums.
To Ripon's credit they learnt from the first half and gave very few penalties away, they also
capitalised on a number of Yarnbury penalties for Bob Whitaker to convert 2 of them to keep the
score board ticking over. On the 65th minute, with pressure building on both sides, Jason Bell
showed he can still pose a problem for any defence and sublimely slipped past his opposite
winger, after some quick hands from the Ripon centres, to score out wide. Up stepped Bob
Whitaker to slot the conversion and take the score to 21:17 to Ripon. The next 15 minutes were
played at great pace with some tremendous tackling from both teams who were going for a final
score to settle the game. As the final whistle came both sets of players knew they had been in a
close contest with Ripon holding on to win 21:17.

Ripon should take credit for managing their discipline in the second half and trusting in their ability
and game plan. They showed today as a team they have grit and determination with 'man of the
match' going to Jonty Lister who lead by example. With no game scheduled next week the 2nd
team are next in action away against Knaresborough.