Ripon 1xv
Matches
Sat 05 Oct 2019  ·  Yorkshire Two
Old Grovians
19
26
Ripon Rugby Union Football Club
Ripon 1xv
1st XV Match Report - Saturday 5th October

1st XV Match Report - Saturday 5th October

Becky Naylor8 Oct 2019 - 09:26
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MATCH REPORT by IAN HASSALL

With Ripon now on the road for two weeks and an unchanged squad from the win over Old Rishworthians, Captain Barker was hoping to take home form to an Old Grovians a side that have limited players to call on but on their day can be the best in the league, especially at home.

With the sun making a rare appearance and the going good our traveling faithful where treated to probably our best half of rugby this season although the hosts took the lead early with a penalty. Ripon immediately struck back through the forwards driving play and giving the backs quick ball. Moving the ball through phase after phase left to right, Tom Graham finished superbly on his wing with the try converted by Ollie Williams to take the lead at 3-7.

The hosts then hit back through a line out catch and drive, to touch down an unconverted try to edge the score to 8-7. Ripon then hit a purple patch to score two more tries similar to the first, with the ball being moved well for Ben Taylor to score both, his first was good support on the inside to score out wide again converted by Williams to stretch the lead to 8-14. The second was a scorcher from 40 yards out, beating three defenders on the inside to score under the posts - converted by Williams, to take the score to an impressive 8-21.
Old Grovians saw out the half with another penalty to take the score to 11-21 at the break.

The half time team talk saw a refreshingly minimal input from the coaches, as Ripon knew they simply had to keep doing more of the same and shut the opposition out of the game.

The second half ebbed and flowed with Ripon clearing and OG working their way back up field, then Ripon defending stoically. Unfortunately the pressure told first through a penalty to the host and then a solo try by their Full Back in the corner. The conversion attempt missed, but score was then balanced at a tantalisingly close 19 - 21. A nail biter on and off the pitch, but Ripon regathered their strength and confidence to close the game down.

For the final quarter, with the Blues pack now dominant in the scrum and defence dominant, Findlay stepped up and broke from the scrum to score left of the posts, uncharacteristically missed by Williams, but took the score further to a 19-26 result.

Any win away is a good win and with consistency in selection and strength in depth being the key Ripon will go into next week's hard battle at Wath Upon Dearne in good condition and all travelling faithful supporters are needed to help the team keep up the momentum.

Match details

Match date

Sat 05 Oct 2019

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Yorkshire Two

League position

4
Old Grovians
11
Ripon
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - Bronco
Major Club Sponsor - Theakstons
Shirt Sponsor - Econ
Shirt Sponsor - Dales Water
Shirt Sponsor - Paul Blood Driving School
Shirt Sponsor - Direct Sports Lighting
Major Club Sponsor - Ripon Interiors
Shirt Sponsor - Work Based Pensions
Club Sponsor - K A Anderson
Fit for Rugby, Fit for Life - RipFit