Ripon vs Gateshead Fell - Saturday 26th August

For the second and final pre-season outing, Ripon travelled to Gateshead with a small but perfectly formed squad of just 21 players and with an average age of just 21 too, this was going to be a test of fortitude for many youngsters making their adult Rugby debut and the ingenuity of the coaching team to mould an effective playing side from those available. With some 40-odd, registered adult players absent for various reasons, this fixture on a Bank Holiday weekend was always going to be a tough ask, but in true style, the “Ripon Rugrats” gelled well as a team and after a slow start, tore their hosts apart in a six-Try rout.

Whilst the hosts started strongly and looked to have superiority in numbers of players available and certainly more in the way of poundage and seniority, they simply could not live with the pace of The Blues’ youngsters, their overall fitness and their impressive and expansive style of play. Again, great testament to the diligence of the coaching team for their efforts in developing the playing structure and to the players for their adherence and application to the game plan. Scoring three Converted Tries in each half to one solitary line-crossing from the hosts, Ripon systematically outplayed their opposition with some well-rehearsed plays, as well as some effective improvisation. The set piece may have creaked somewhat under the pressure of the weighty home forwards, but Ripon’s own ball was protected well mostly and possession was used to good effect.

On the discipline side, The Blues showed greater control than in their previous week’s outing and a better understanding of the high tackle legislation. Whilst conceding eleven penalties overall, this was a marked improvement for Ripon and despite a flurry of bad luck late on in the second half, the team showed remarkable composure. With two of Ripon’s Try haul coming directly from opposition penalties, this also showed a sharpness in the side to react to opportunities and punish mistakes and indiscretions effectively.

With selection this week looking more like a school register than a team sheet, this was certainly a time for the youth of the City to step up and be counted. Starting up front, the natural shoe in at Loose Head was George Evans, with James Pearce making his first appearance of the season at Hooker. Completing the triumvirate at Tight Head was new signing and debutant Tommy McCree, looking to make his mark with his new club. Locking the scrum were brothers in arms Henry and Billy Fletcher to add some grit to the forward game and to show that nepotism is alive and kicking in Ripon. The back row was made up of Oscar Lees with his low-level strike capability at Blind Side, Freddie Wharton to add some culture to the game at Open Side and Billy Burgin to put in another hair-raising performance at Number 8.

The half backs saw the familiar pairing from last season – Max Marston, terrier-like, snapping at the heels of every breakdown and Mikey Bray the “Great Mysterioso - conjuror supreme”, looking to move the ball quickly from the set-piece and keep the attacking and defensive play in good shape. Bray, showing magical form by opening the scoring for Ripon with the first Try and achieving 100% kicking success by converting his own and the remaining five Tries. Tommy “The Tank” Graham picked his usual berth on the Left Wing and despite racking up significant yardage with ball in hand, just missed out on getting his name on the score sheet but also showed to be a reckonable force in defence. The starting Centre pair of seasoned campaigner and rapier-sharp Will Barrett and a senior debut for aptly named Tom Senior worked wonders in midfield. Fred Cooper added his fiery determination to the Right Wing and Morgan “Little Clarky” Clark brought up the rear starting at Full Back, though made a mark for himself later on, subbing in at Scrum Half.

The six-man bench had a very youthful look to it and with no recognisable front row replacement, all had fingers crossed that the starting line up made it through the full eighty minutes. Champing at the bit to get into the action were, from last season’s senior debutants: James Cooper and Jacob Drane and this season’s “class of 23”; Ben Garrett, Fergus Moon, Toby Boyce and Harry Veitch. Drane and Garrett, both carrying on the club’s family tradition and aiming to follow into their fathers’ footsteps into full 1st XV colours.

Under the watchful gaze of the Angel of the North and with the threatening thunderheads sweeping in from the North West, with a sizeable crowd from the annual beer festival at the ground, the hosts kicked off and maintained a spritely pace for the first five minutes. Looking to use their big heavy forwards as strike players, Fell were soon in a groove that tested the visitors’ defence significantly. At seven minutes in, the hosts broke from a scrum to set up a crash ball in the Centres. Barrett decked his man with vigour but the cover defence wasn’t quick enough to snuff out the offload and the chunky home Outside Centre picked up the short pass to romp in under the posts and unopposed. With the conversion, the hosts went 7 – 0 ahead with as many minutes played.

The Blues finally settled into their regular pattern and composure and with benefit of a couple of penalties, started to gain the confidence of the referee and the better of the hosts. Whilst the numerous personnel changes in the pack resulted in a less than optimal performance at scrum and line out time, the former never yielded an inch but the latter ended up less effective, with some scoring chances going begging. The remainder of the first quarter was spent with Ripon literally finding their feet and with Bray kicking intelligently for territory and Clark for safety, the opposition were kept well at bay.

Into the second quarter and fielding a deep kick into the Ripon half, Graham set off up his wing with his usual brute force and made some 50 metres. Eventually hauled down on the home 22, Graham laid off well for Marston to feed Bray, who dummied the pass out before stepping back inside and scoring The Blues’ first Try under the posts. The easy Conversion went over and at 21 minutes, it was Gateshead 7, Bray 7.
At the half hour mark, the first of the replacement were made, with Veitch and Garrett joining the pack and backs respectively. Veitch making an immediate impact up front with a fine Try on 34 minutes. From a line out, Pearce tidied to feed Burgin who made some good yards. Barrett was on hand to take the attack to the left wing to link up with Graham, who again battered his way up-field. Young Veitch was on hand to take the inside pass and broke through a couple of tackles on his way to scoring his first senior Try. Bray added the conversion to take the score to 7 – 14.

From the restart again Ripon piled on the pressure leaving the hosts at sixes and sevens. At 36 minutes, from a penalty on the home 22 for a high tackle on Graham. Marston was on hand to take the quick tap and weave his way through the first 10 metres. On his shoulder to carry on was Henry Fletcher to close down the final few metres to snatch Ripon’s third Try and with Bray’s Conversion the score of 7 – 21 was the final of the first half.

Despite the scoreline being to their detriment, Fell livened up for the final couple of minutes and played with more purpose by stretching the visitors from one side to the other. Thankfully the Ripon defence was as organised and resolute as ever and when the half time whistle blew, all breathed a sigh of relief.

The second half saw further personnel changes, with all of the replacement taking to the field and the coaching team trying out as many permutations as possible. The loss of Tight Head McCree through injury after 10 minutes however and the lack of a replacement Prop, forced Ripon to go uncontested in the scrums thereafter. Not a problem in a friendly game, but not an ideal situation were this to be a league fixture.
The third quarter was one in which The Blues looked to regain their composure and get used to the different kind of launchpad the uncontested scrums gave to both teams. It was also a period in which a few potentially scoring passes went astray, probably due to being slightly over-eager and perhaps impatient to build on the success and momentum of the first half. Order was finally restored after 15 minutes, when from a penalty touch kick and line out, Veitch pressed up the middle and from the breakdown, Bray floated a long pass out to Graham who made another 20 metres. On being caught, Graham timed the offload perfectly for Clark supporting inside to run in unopposed to score Ripon’s fourth Try. Bray added the Conversion to take the score on to 7 – 28.

Within moments of the restart, the “Rugrats” were on the rampage again and hammering on the home line. After a successful clearance and Ripon counter, The Blues had a scrum put in on their 10-metre line and Burgin broke to make the first 15 metres. Marston collected the offload and with sleight of hand, fed Barrett to do his thing again, by weaving through the defence some 50 more metres and scored Ripon’s fifth, with barely a finger laid on him. Bray’s form continued with his fifth conversion to take the score to 7 – 35 and seemingly getting out of sight.
After a further five minutes, Ripon were again in the driving seat and the hosts were seemingly all lost at sea, so when at 25 minutes another attack built up from halfway, there was only one outcome on the cards. Moon started the move and fed Cooper, who offloaded to Bray to chip the defence and with perfect timing scooped up the loose ball to feed the ever-present Wharton going right. After his 30-metre dash, Wharton fed back to Clark in support on the inside and on again to Evans sprinting up the middle. After an outrageous “show and go” the “gorgeous one” finished off the move with panache and under the posts. Bray could have added this final conversion with his eyes shut and nudged the score up to 7 – 42.

That was it as far as Ripon’s dominance of the game was concerned. The final ten minutes saw the hosts go through a bit of a purple patch and through gaining favour with the Referee, gained six penalties in a row for Ripon indiscretions. None of which thankfully, presented any threat of a scoring chance for the hosts. This despite their final flurry, the game drew to a close with Ripon on the back foot, but comfortable winners at 7 – 42. Gateshead were for the large part of the game, as with the England squad against Fiji, left stumbling zombie-like in the wake of Ripon’s relentless waves of attacks and powerless against the “Blue Wall” in defence. Ripon showed flair with ball in hand and whilst inconsistent at times, maintained their shape and structure overall. Defensively, another excellent display for Ripon and one to build on for the future, when matches get tougher than this.

Credit to Gateshead for their sportsmanship and excellent hospitality. The after-match celebrations at the beer festival were very gratefully received and will provide many happy memories, for the bus driver at least. All returned home safely and raring to go again.

Next Saturday 2nd September, the Counties 2 Yorkshire league season starts in earnest for Ripon with both 1st and 2nd XVs travelling up to Settle to play a double header against old friends and Rivals; North Ribblesdale. The kick off will be 3.00pm and all travelling supporters will be welcome to cheer on The Blues and experience the legendary hospitality of Grove Park.

For any existing players, or would be new members reading this who have not been party to pre-season training or available for the games so far, it’s never too late to get back into playing ways, so do get in touch and participate. We need as many players as possible to sustain our playing strength and league aspirations. Training continues at the club every Tuesday and Thursday evening and every little helps!