Away day blues for Ribb

This was another awful away performance by Ribb who in each of the first three months of the year have travelled to sides they had beaten at Grove Park and on each occasion, at Darlington, Roundhegians and now Hartlepool Rovers, they have failed to perform, suffering three heavy defeats and conceding well over 100 points in the process, writes Trevor Graveson.

Those who are used to seeing Ribb play at Settle would not recognise the side in its travelling guise, for although the team retains the same blue and white strip it seems to undergo a complete change of character.

Somewhere in the collective psyche - a complicated area in any team sport - Ribb seem to lose the plot, hesitancy replaces confidence and individual contributions, with one or two exceptions, drop to an alarming level. The team is not short on ability despite the injury problems that have been present all season and Ribb certainly should have been capable of victory at Hartlepool, but the fact is they never threatened to win and just as at Darlington and Roundhegians points were conceded too easily

Ribb started well enough using Antony Capstick's lineout supremacy to drive through the pack, but the possession was not used well and when the forwards were held nothing else was on offer. A couple of early penalties went astray, first from Sean Kennedy and then Stuart Towns because unfortunately the youngster aggravated a knee injury when he struck his kick and the problem got worse as the game progressed and later he had to retire.

And Ribb also had to deal with another early injury when Phil Pawson twisted his back in a tackle during the movement that led to Rovers' opening try, so Graham Newhouse was brought on.

A second Rovers' score soon followed and the Dalesmen seemed unable to withstand any concerted pressure. As a result Rovers' confidence grew and they took a stranglehold on the game with a third try before the interval. Ribb's forays upfield failed to yield any reward and a long-range Towns penalty attempt fell short to leave the score at 15-0 at the break.

In the second half Ribb began as if they meant business and had the early territorial advantage, but they declined a straightforward penalty on the '22' in front of the posts when perhaps points on the board would have been an encourgement and would have brought Rovers back to within striking distance.

As it was the attack floundered due to poor handling and when Rovers attacked shortly afterwards they were gifted a try by another wayward pass. By this time John Hughes was on for Kennedy and Ribb had to reshuffle behind the scrum so perhaps it was not surprising that they were split open in the centre with a preplanned move and the home side led 29-0.

With the game over as a contest Ribb stirred themselves and the final quarter was by far their best, but John Moore's try was simply a consolation score to reward him for another afternoon of hard work. Fullback Gareth Evans also impressed with several powerful runs, but significantly he received the ball courtesy of wayward Rovers' kicks as Ribb for their part could not devise a way of getting possession to a player who is undoubtedly their main strike force.

So this was another pointless journey for the Settle side who now lie just outside the relegation zone and must be careful because a slip by York in North Division Two would lead to York being relegated with Halifax and the knock-on effect would be that three sides would have to be relegated from Ribb's division.

The Dalesmen have dug a bit of a hole for themselves with poor away performances and must ensure they do not fall in it. They travel to bottom club Westoe in a fortnight's time and will have an opportunity to recover lost ground, but they had better look out because Westoe's only success this season has been against Hartlepool Rovers!

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