Top Notch Performance by U14's

The best performance of the season saw Ripon win a hard physical game against Wetherby. The home team won the toss and Ripon found themselves playing into a gale-force wind . With the wind at their backs Wetherby piled on the pressure in the first quarter and Ripon responded well in
defence, however several dropped passes meant they could not get out of their own twenty two.

Wetherby got points on the board with two unconverted tries, however Ripon continued to press and good work from the forwards and strong running from Ben Borchard resulted in several good chances and the first half ended with Ripon a yard short of the opposition line.

Ripon started the second half well with big forwards Rob Heaton, Jack Baldwin And Olly Bowett
all breaking tackles and making good runs, and when Rob went over well supported by team-mates in a maul, Ripon got their first try Adam converted to make it 10-7. As the game got more physical Ripon matched Wetherby and everyone on the Ripon squad did there bit as the tackles flew in, some more than a little high Ripon kept on pressing and were rewarded when Rob picked up off the back of a ruck, made good ground before feeding Jack who almost made the line, before off-loading to Olly to score the best try of the game. Adam again converted for Ripon to take the lead. Wetherby got one back to retake the lead but Ripons backs with flyhalf Archie Hassell pushing them on and good running from Elliot Bean, Jake Robinson, Lucian Wray were playing well now, some great tackling from them also. Another good game by new player Owain Gillam who didn’t miss a tackle all game.

Ripon’s winner again came again after good work from Archie , who kicked them into a good lineout position. Ripon who were dominant in the lineout all day, won the ball and pressed for the line, Wetherby again gave a penalty away and the forwards pressed on for the line, Olly going over for his second try, again converted to give Ripon a 15-21 win. A top notch performance from
everyone.

Man of the match ---- JACK BALDWIN

Man of steel ------- ROB HEATON