York 39 North Ribblesdale 3

NORTH Ribblesdale travelled to Clifton Moor to take on a York side looking odds on to finish in the top two, with no fewer than 11 senior players absent due to holidays and an injury list of unparalleled length.

With such a depleted squad this was a mammoth task from the off and so it transpired, although the Dalesmen earned much credit for their character and resolve.

Ribblesdale kicked off playing with the slope in their favour and after early pressure, John Hughes kicked them into a three-point lead with a penalty.This was to be Ribblesdale's only score, although another penalty attempt was just wide.

York slowly but surely ground their way upfield and after some solid defence from the visitors, the ball was spun wide and an overlap was perfectly executed to give replacement wingman Mark Roberts an unconverted try and the home side a 5-3 lead.

Ribblesdale were by no means outclassed at this stage and on several occasions used the slope to good effect to set up attacking positions only for Ben Quick, the excellent York stand-off, to lift the danger with some massive clearances.

The game was in effect decided in a 20-minute period either side of the break when three converted tries, one unconverted try and a penalty were scored to take York out of reach at 34-3.

Tries by Roberts, centre Sean Bass, flanker Ian Davies and centre Rob Karma did the damage, with Quick adding the goal points.

York went for the jugular as they strove to rack up as many points as possible as this may give them home advantage in a play-off situation. However after a talk from captain John Thwaite, all the Ribblesdale side dug deep to stave off the expected avalanche.

They did in fact manage several forays deep into York territory and the outstanding Michael Carr was unlucky not to score in the corner.

York ran the ball on every occasion, but the Grove Park men refused to yield and it is to their credit that the only other score was a try from full back Stuart Davies.

Although the result suggests that this was a dark day from Ribblesdale's point of view, there was a tremendous spirit shown which is likely to be tested to the full in the coming weeks, as following Yarnbury's unlikely success at Old Crossleyans, a minimum of two victories from the remaining league games is required if relegation is to be avoided.