Quickly recovering from last week’s unhappy outing to the seaside, in glorious spring weather and in front of a large and jolly crowd at Mallorie Park, Ripon systematically took their visitors apart at every stage of the game. The nine try to one rout, proved Ripon’s capability of playing at sustained pace and intensity and knocked guests Bradford & Bingley down a peg in the league, for The Blues to finish the season’s campaign in a very creditable fifth place.

With the sun drawing out a larger than average crowd, ably swelled by a busload of away supporters and the added attraction of a three-way curtain raiser friendly match between the Under 13 squads of Ripon, Bradford & Bingley and tourists from Percy Park. An entertaining display of encouragingly fine Rugby from all and the welcoming “guard of honour” tunnel for the adult players entering the pitch was a nice touch for all.

Given last week’s disappointing result away at Bridlington and learning from the first leg encounter of the season back at Wagon Lane in September, this was going to be a stern test for Ripon to end the league season on a high note and show the squad, the coaches, back office teams and the club, what the playing strength of the club is capable of. That they did with style.

The pre-match mantra was simple – play to strengths, do the simple things simply and beat a beatable team. Despite some eleven personnel and positional changes from last week’s line up, this squad oozed talent from every pore and clicked early on. The cohesion with which Ripon played was breathtaking at times and whilst in the early moments of the match, the chunky visitors still had some breath in them, there were a few squeaky moments. The Blues however, weathered the early bluster and responded positively to the empty threats and turned in one of, if not the best performance of the season.

This week’s selection was always going to be a challenge with some notable returns from injuries and so many current players in form. The team sheet saw in total six recalls from previous absences and five positional changes, some quite subtle; but enough to build a squad with power, pace, fitness and finesse from the word go.

Up front, Jack “Toothy” Stiddard deservedly claimed the Loose Head berth from the start and was joined by the familiar faces of skipper James “P-P” Pearce at Hooker and the ceaseless Adam Newcombe at Tight Head, who celebrated his achievement of being the only squad member to play in all 22 league games this season. The second row saw Iain Barker retain the cherished number 4 jersey and Billy Fletcher accompany him, both contributing to a powerhouse display of scrummaging against heavier opposition.

The back row had an edge to it that looked to pose nothing but trouble for the opposition. Jordan Layne started at Blind Side and the abrasive Tom Austin at Open Side for a change, earning a co-man of the match award with his best buddy Harry Drane, Austin claiming his second half yellow card as a badge of honour for selflessly preventing a visitor’s try scoring opportunity, as well as an early try in the first half. Pulling it all together at the back was the returning Elliot Davies-Taylor at Number 8 and sadly missed over the last few weeks for his explosive running.

In the backs, Harry Drane deservedly kept his starting position at Scrum Half and Morgan Clark returned to the fray after a week off at a specialist goal kicking retreat in Spain. Notching up a further 22 points in total, with a try, a penalty goal and seven conversions, the sun sea and Sangria certainly had the right effect and took the point scoring machine’s total to 236 for the season so far. The Centres had another “crash, bang wallop” feel to then with Tom Graham returning to his comfort zone at Inside, scoring two tries with relative ease. The pacey Olly Lang-Burns completed the duo and whilst not getting on the score sheet, put in some tantalising runs and defensive efforts. The Wings saw Zak Kirby add to his try tally with the final blow of the day and Alex Riley concluding the first half with a timely dab down for Ripon’s bonus point. Henry Hanson brought up the rear with a sterling display at Full Back and also not getting on the scoresheet, added immense effort to The Blues’ attacking strength.

The bench was certainly a blend of old and new, with George Evans champing at the bit for more 1st XV action as front row replacement and player coach Allan Hudson recovering from injury to excel anywhere. Freshly returned traveller Tom Roebuck, similarly eager to regain his place in the fold as utility replacement, proceeded to fold opponents like deckchairs at will, causing all sorts of carnage in the second half. Clearly “Bucky’s” sabbatical in a martial arts retreat has done him some good. Hopefully he will restrict displaying his skills to on the pitch in the remaining games and particularly on tour.

Ripon opted for the tried and tested and most successful start to the game, playing uphill, into the wind and receiving the kick off. The visitors skilfully gathered their own kick and with their roly poly pack, set off on a number of phases toward the Ripon line. Stout defence kept out the invaders and from a penalty line out catch and drive, the Bees rumbled quietly into touch. Such was the efficacy of their set piece for the rest of the match.

Opening the scoring for The Blues after the initial opposition onslaught had been controlled, was Tom Graham with the first of his brace on nine minutes after a line out win from Layne was taken on by Austin and Davies-Taylor. Morgan Clark added the extras for 7 – 0. A further ten minutes passed before Tom Austin barged his way over after a penalty line out catch and drive. Clark added the conversion for 14 – 0.

Next up was Allan Hudson, brought on to refresh the pace of the back row and on 22 minutes, the Flanker pounced on the loose ball opportunity from a failed Bees line out to run in unopposed. Clark made no mistake of the conversion for 21 – 0. The try bonus point came for Ripon just on 33 minutes when after a rapid kick chase from Kirby, the pack were in hot pursuit with Pearce and Austin in support. Clark fed from the last tackle for Riley to take the glory in the corner. Clark’s momentous kick from the touchline took The Blues to 28 – 0 and Bees looking very sorry for themselves.

Ripon opened the second half strongly with a penalty goal from the mechanical boot of Clark for 31 – 0 and still no sign of the opposition waking up. Clark added to his own glory from the next restart as the ball went into touch and from Layne’s clean line out catch the backs moved left. Hudson entered the line to make some 20 metres before offloading to Clark to finish. With his conversion, this took Ripon to 38 – 0 and the Bees with a mountain to climb.

After a further ten minutes, Tom Graham struck again, this time after a quick penalty involving Hudson, Roebuck and Clark again. Clark was just wide of the conversion for 43 – 0. Jordan Layne added to the Bees misery with an unconverted try after a quickly taken penalty. Hudson again featured in the next score after a further six minutes and from a dominant scrum, Ripon attacked straight. Roebuck, playing in the Centre took a firm line and when eventually stopped, the mercurial Hudson was on hand to dab down. Clark found his groove again with the conversion for 55 – 0.

As the game entered it’s final few minutes, with both sides nearing exhaustion for different reasons, gaps started to appear in the previously impervious Ripon armour. A lucky blind side break from a Bees line out saw one of their Props wrong foot the seemingly toothless defence and score in the corner. The monster touchline conversion gave the visitors some credit for all their efforts of the afternoon. The final nail came in their coffin however, at two minutes into injury time, when from a penalty line out catch and drive, the ball was released smartly through the back line for Zak Kirby to touch down in the clubhouse corner. Clark did the honours for a final finish of 62 – 7 and another fine Blues victory on home turf, what was left of it.

A solid team performance against visibly daunting opposition, with strong proof that size doesn’t always matter!

Thoughts now turn to silverware and the forthcoming Yorkshire Shield semi-final tie versus Harrogate Pythons. The game; postponed a couple of times due to inclement weather and clubs being unable to agree on alternative dates, will be played on neutral ground at West Park Leeds RFC, under lights on Wednesday 29th April, kicking off at 7.30pm. All travelling support will be very welcome.