Ribb gain their first point

North Ribblesdale 12

FROM time to time North Ribblesdale have displayed masochistic tendencies and that trait surfaced again in the final 15 minutes of this desperately close encounter at The Sycamores.

By then, the Dalesmen held a slender one-point lead thanks to two well-taken tries and the ability to withstand the home team's revival and move into a strong attacking position.

Powerful Ribblesdale scrummaging had Park in disarray and could well have produced a penalty try. Instead the decision was a penalty to the visitors within 15 metres of the home side's posts.

The easy three points on offer seemed the obvious choice, but the visitors opted for a scrum, failed in the subsequent attack and eventually the home side scrambled the ball away.

That sequence of events certainly lifted the home players and the visitors wobbled, losing discipline and conceding a sequence of penalties.

The last of these, which proved to be the final kick of the game, was awarded 35 metres out in front of the posts, but the chance went astray and the Grove Park side came emerged with their first Yorkshire One points of the season.

Things had begun calmly enough and despite playing into a strong breeze, the visitors had the better of matters early on, although with the advantage of the elements, it was inevitable that West Park would have periods of pressure and two Monkhouse penalties were successful.

Both sides had claims for a try, Park's coming when a maul was driven over the Ribblesdale line and Park escaping when they managed the unlikely task of holding John Walker up as he tried to complete an excellent attacking move.

However, Park were unable to cash in on their position, whereas the visitors made the most of the situation. Ribblesdale took the Park scrum to give Russ Howarth the chance to surge over for a try to bring the score to 6-5 at the interval.

In the second-half, the Dalesmen soon moved forward and Michael Carr made the most of hesitancy by Park stand-off Ingram when he charged down a clearance kick and then completed the job by following up to collect a try that John Hughes converted.

The visitors could and should have gone on to win well from this position, but a Hughes penalty hit the post and the home threequarters countered with a fine try by centre Whitehead.

The conversion, like the final penalty attempt, flew wide, leaving the Grove Park men with a vital and deserved league success.

Again there were positive signs for the future, with a solid scrum giving the home eight some torrid moments and a lineout which generally functioned well.

Unfortunately, the Settle side is not putting phases of play together as well as it can and continuity is one aspect of play which could be improved.

The early season results, however, should not lead to too much gloom, for only one of the side's opening four Yorkshire One games has been at home and the side has not been disgraced in any of their defeats at Pontefract, Hull and Sheffield Tigers.

Nevertheless, the players and their supporters know that the side has yet to find its form. The team is capable of considerable improvement and from the team's elated reaction at the end of this game, it was obvious that the result was vitally important. Hopefully it will prove to be the catalyst which gets the season moving.

North Ribblesdale Seconds collected seven tries to one in beating their West Park Bramhope counterparts 39-5 at Grove Park. Mastery of first-phase possession gave the home side a marked advantage, as was demonstrated when a well-rehearsed lineout drive brought a try for Pete Humphries.

Richard Caton then crossed for the first of his two tries, but was later fined for jug avoidance after off-loading the ball when a hat trick loomed.

Brian McGeogh was the catalyst for a fine team performance and fully merited his try, while Chris Wallbank capped a hard-working afternoon with his push-over try.

Phil Beddard gained his reward for constantly harrying the West Park half-backs when he took advantage of a fumble by them to touch down.North Ribblesdale U10s continued their excellent form by chalking up victories over Keighley (20-10) and Huddersfield YMCA (25-10).

Both victories were the result of fine team efforts, with defensive work the real key to success. Among a string of good displays, Chris Walker was outstanding.