Match Report Saturday 21st November 2015 - Ripon 3xv - Ripon Rugby Union Football Club

On a chilly grey day, Ripon 3s travelled to league leaders Wetherby with only the minimum required amount of normal 3rd team players. It wasn't looking good for the Wakeman boys.

However after a bit of a discussion in the team changing room, it was decided that Robert Lamb and the manager Paul Bake would start in the front row to at least show Ripon were up for the game. From the whistle all of the Ripon players set off with a show of determination that completely shocked the Wetherby side! The pack were holding there own and even wining some of the opposition scrums and lineouts, the backs were playing out of their boots and were gaining good ground.

Then unfortunately came one Ripon's low points when Rob Lamb took a blow to the head which caused a horrible injury to his ear! This needed a trip to LGI and 15 stitches. Wetherby capitalized on Ripon's slow restart and slipped in to get an unconverted try. 0-5

Ripon came back with even more determination but Wetherby snuck in for another. 10-0. Another bit of bad luck for Ripon, just before half time saw Will Connor roll his ankle which removed him from the game.

However Wetherby must have been getting anxious as they changed their forwards just after half time and things looked ominous for the away side. However the Ripon pack had other ideas and had Wetherby wondering what to do next. Some good fortume for Ripon occured when after another good passage of play Simon Williamson went over the line. The wind did not help the conversion for Aylward 10-5.

More great play ensued, however Wetherby won a penalty just in front of the sticks to make the score 13-5. Not to be put off Ripon once again came back at Wetherby and got themselves a penalty which Simon Williamson with a fantastic kick sailed over the posts 13-8 which is where the score stayed till the final whistle.

Ripon Manager Paul Bake said of the game: " Ripon went into this game as huge underdogs. Although the underdogs became more like Topdogs! Today there is no man of the match only men of the match. We may have lost today but that game has brought us closer as a team,and everyone should be proud of the performance they put in. Many thanks must also go to the Wetherby forward who stood in for the injured Lamb and played his heart out for Ripon.