NORTH Ribblesdale travelled to Morley on Sunday for their first county final for 23 years, full of hope after some improved performances as the season came to its climax. A large crowd were in attendance, with Ribblesdale enjoying the better vocal following.

The game proved to be see-saw affair, with the lead changing hands on no fewer than six occasions. The early skirmishes were fairly even, with Dean Stacey and Willie Garth enjoying the freedom of the lineout and the Ribblesdale pack seeming to be the first to the breakdown, with Mark Mortimer and Ryan Kirkbride to the fore.

An early penalty from experienced West Leeds stand-off David Breakwell and two from Ribblesdale's Bryan McGeoch were the only scores as the match settled down, but as half-time approached, the West Leeds forwards drove deep into the Ribblesdale 22 and from a lineout Sean Field was rumbled over for a converted try to give West Leeds a 10 -6 interval lead.

Ribblesdale took the game straight back from the kick-off and following good work from Neil Gemmell and captain Gareth Evans, Michael Carr - easily the best player on the field - sped away for a classic wing forward's try to give the Dalesmen a slender one-point advantage.

Not to be denied, West Leeds came straight back to score another rolling try, this time by Chris Jewell.

Ribblesdale's forwards were getting on top in the tight and from a threatening scrummage position were awarded a penalty try after heaving the West Leeds pack over the line only to have the ball kicked away.

McGeoch duly obliged with the conversion and the Settle side led 18-15.

The game was there for the taking, but in the last 10 minutes West Leeds scored a converted try through wing forward Chris Shaw and another penalty from Breakwell to close the scoring and take the trophy.

In the dying minutes Ribblesdale missed a kickable penalty and full-back Evans passed when only five metres short. But the pass was dropped and Ribblesdale's last chance of glory in a difficult season was gone.

However, great credit must go to Ribblesdale, who have striven manfully to cope with a very debilitating injury list since Christmas and a final victory here would have been just reward for the effort put in.

With the same squad of players next year and a repeat of these efforts, they can surely bounce straight back up and will certainly have their eye on the Shield again having come so close this year.