Spring truly arrived at Mallorie Park this weekend, with an exceptionally well-attended sponsors lunch to recognise the value of Theakston’s Brewery’s investment in the club, a successful hosting by The Blues’ 2nd XV of Leos and the 1st XV squad’s emphatic despatch of a spirit Halifax Vandals side in a nine try drubbing. Whilst the score line perhaps underplays the conviction of the visitors to compete heartily at all stages of the game, particularly at scrum time, it did go to show that when Ripon field a squad of backs mostly playing in their preferred positions, the potential is beyond exciting.

Despite a somewhat tense first half in which both sides cautiously explored their options and the Ripon backs cordially introduced themselves to each other, the hosts held their discipline well throughout and entertained the substantial crowd with some fine, flowing Rugby. Again, due to other results, this five-point league victory did nothing to improve Ripon’s sixth place in Yorkshire Two. It did however boost the squad’s confidence and belief in themselves and with just four league games remaining, consolidates Ripon in the top half of the table.

Selection this week was always going to be a challenge, with the dilemma of a handful of key players missing due to a cultural exchange with the Republic of Ireland and some injuries, but then a plethora of hitherto missing personnel reporting for duty. Incoming were four recalls and nine positional shuffles made for a total of 13 changes from last week’s line up. Up front, Jack Stiddard started for the second week, this time at Loose Head and participated in the front row interchange programme with enthusiasm. At Hooker, skipper James Pearce was released from international duties and led well from the front, with a first half try for his efforts. Adam Newcombe begrudgingly occupied the Tight Head berth and showed despite his misgivings, what nearly a half century of front row experience can bring to the party. The second row saw Billy Fletcher making his sixth straight appearance and with a stunning second half interception try, showing the pace and skill of a back trapped in a forward’s body. Joe Middlemiss joined Billy in the row to keep him grounded and on point.

The back row saw as good a combination as has ever graced the field this season, with Jordan Layne shifting to Blind Side, relishing the “wet work” and opening the second half scoring with a try. Allan Hudson narrowly escaped his tenth man of the match award this week, playing in his regular and arguably, best position of Open Side and also claimed a second half try. Elliot Davies-Taylor completed the triumvirate at nowhere else but Number 8 and as well as opening the scoring in the first half with a fine individual try, ruled the roost from the base of the scrum.

The backs saw a similar amount of re-shuffling, with James Cooper starting at Full Back and as the score line suggests, was unworried in defence. The Wings were graced this week with a subtle blend of pace and erm… pace with Henry Hanson and Zak Kirby itching to open their legs and show their class. Honours went to the former this week as Kirby’s scoring potential was hampered by his inability to take the ball with him. The Centres saw a mouthwatering pairing and recalls for “Koms” Komaitai at Inside and Ollie Lang-Burns at Outside. Both added a significantly different dimension in terms of gritty defence and ball distribution and sheer pace and elusive running. Let the reader decide. L-B’s last minute try sealed the opposition’s fate and demonstrated how football’s loss is Rugby’s great gain.

The half backs saw Morgan Clark turn in a top drawer man of the match performance at Number 10, with a try, seven conversions and a penalty goal adding to 22 points on the day and a season total so far of 193. Alex Riley completed the line up at Scrum Half and put in the complete “Petit General” performance to maintain momentum and continuity.

Ripon opted to start in their preferred manner, uphill receiving the kick off. A Layne reception enabled a couple of probes towards the opposition before an exchange of possession took Vandals into the home half. Cooper’s clearance kick relieved the pressure. A not straight line out gave Ripon a scrum just in opposition territory, which Vandals right royally destroyed.

Regaining composure. On seven minutes, Ripon broke the deadlock featuring some spirited thrusts by the visitors, with their opening Try from Davies-Taylor. From a line out won by Hudson. The ball was spun open to the left, with Koms involved twice before feeding the Number 8. Hudson, Pearce, Stiddard and Riley were all involved in the recycling exercise before Davies-Taylor popped up at the end to finish. Clark converted for 7 – 0.

The next twenty minutes featured a couple of penalty exchanges each way and both sides looking for chinks in the others’ armour. Clark found a way through at 27 minutes with a well struck penalty goal for 10 – 0. After a few more minutes of attrition, Vandals’ patience paid off when on 35 minutes the visitors tapped and went from a penalty in the home half and through some slick handling, recycling and repeated pulses, crossed the line for a converted try and a well-deserved 10 – 7. The Vandals’ nerve didn’t hold for long though and when deep into injury time they conceded a penalty in their 22 for a high tackle and the offender was awarded a yellow card, The Blues had no option but to kick for touch and go for the catch and drive. The ball was collected perfectly and the blue machine trundled over the line for Skipper Pearce to touch down. Without the conversion that gave Ripon a slight buffer of 15 – 7 as the half time whistle blew.

The Ripon half time chat was about consistency and upping the pace as well as maintaining great discipline. And so the second half began in earnest, with Ripon champing at the bit and the opposition a man down. The home efforts in patiently building phases and pushing out wide when safe to do so brought results when six minutes in, Jordan Layne crashed over after another thrilling display of inter-passing between Pearce, Davies-Taylor and Hanson. Layne added the monster effort over the final two metres and with Clark’s conversion took the score to 22 – 7.

From the restart, which Vandals barely responded to, Layne received and fed Harry Drane, who jinked a bit and chipped ahead down the hill. Kirby and Lang-Burns were involved in the chase and recovery and when the move faltered close to the visitors’ line, Hanson was on hand to finish under the posts. Clark converted for 29 – 7 and Ripon drifting beyond reach.

Not five minutes had passed before Ripon started to nail the Vandals coffin firmly shut. Drane chipped for Kirby to chase and score but the connection didn’t make it and Vandals countered infield. Not that the counter-attack was in any danger of going anywhere, Billy Fletcher was perfectly placed to leap like a salmon to intercept a midfield pass and sprint in some 35 metres to touch down. Clark added the extras for 36 – 7 and the challenge for the visitors looking insurmountable. Vandals did however dig deep and as the game entered into the final quarter, played some of their most intense Rugby of the day. Unfortunately, honours didn’t follow their play and after a penalty line out on 64 minutes, the Ripon catch and drive did what it does best. The initial drive took The Blues pack to within inches of the line and when it all fell in a heap, Hudson put on his dancing shoes and shimmied his way through the remaining defence for Ripon’s sixth try. Clark’s conversion made it 43 – 7 with ten minutes to go and Vandals on a prayer to limit further damage.

Further damage arrived in the form of Harry Drane following a Davies-Taylor scrum break. Drane shipped off from the pick and go and fed the ever-present Koms to chip ahead. Kirby almost made it to the party but Lang-Burns collected to power towards the line. Held up five metres short, Lang-Burns handed over to Drane to finish what he started. Clark was on song with the boot again for the conversion and 50 – 7. With less than ten minutes to go, Clark found his moment of glory when intercepting a floating and desperate pass from Vandals to try and find some room to play. The consummate athlete and shaking of any doubts as to his full recovery from knee surgery, Clark sprinted the full 60 metres to touch down. When fully composed and breathing again, Clark added the conversion for 57 – 7.

The icing on the cake for Ripon and the final nail for Vandals came on 76 minutes when after a deep clearance from Vandals, Cooper received and set Clark and then Riley in motion. It was inevitable that Lang-Burns would latch onto the end of the move and though tackled short, reached long to touch down Ripon’s ninth and final try. Clark’s immense conversion from the touchline secured the score at 62 – 7 and Ripon’s biggest win of the season.

The match fizzled out with no further scores in the next couple of minutes, with the visitors down but not out and Ripon, again delighted to show what they are capable of. A solid display of good discipline and great belief in sticking to doing the basics well has brought Ripon a renewed confidence. Next week, Ripon will be looking to exorcise the demons and bogies associated with away games at Baildon. Hopefully player availability will enable a match winning squad to head over to Baildon and bring home the bacon. All travelling visitors very welcome for the 3.00pm kick off.