York vs Ripon (Home)

Pre-match training again at 9:45, with a pleasing 15 player turnout; most arriving on time after the timely mid-week message from the Coaches (Joe – get your Dad out of bed earlier on a Sunday morning). The lads from Ripon brought a substantial squad as well, and also arrived early to go through their drills.

By 10:30 we were ready for the off. The last time the two teams met was in last season’s Driffield Festival final; a closely contested match that saw York triumph (I seem to recall that was the one where Pari ran approximately 100m past the try line to touch down, only for it to be disqualified as being beyond the bounds of the pitch - someone having sabotaged the marker pole).

From the start, it was clear that this was going to be a tightly contested match, the Ripon forwards having a notable size advantage, supported by some impressive backs. However, it was York who scored first, with Tom M running 25m to touch down (5-0). Toby P then made an sterling 20m run down the touchline to increase the lead (10-0). Ripon came back strongly though in the later part of the first half, and eventually their hard efforts were rewarded, as from a penalty restart they drove 10m through the York defence to pull one back (10-5). York started the second half with an immediate try from Tom M (15-5); then Toby P increased the lead further with a try from the scrum (York getting to grips now with the powerful Ripon pack), and then from a ruck (25-5). Steele took advantage of the persistent gap to run 20m down the touchline and make it 30-5. Some fine handling by Joseph, with a splendid pass allowed Tom M to take the score to 35-5. That touchline corridor space was still showing, and Toby P raced ¾ of the pitch to score his 4th of the match (40-5). Ripon were not giving up easily though, and showed tremendous character to press the York defence very hard; only a fine cross-pitch run and tackle 5m from the touch line by Steele stopped their second try. Joseph once again demonstrated his unselfish teamwork by passing through to allow Tom M to wrap the game up. Final score 45-5, the result perhaps not properly reflecting the hard efforts that Ripon put into what was a very physical game and well played match.

The balmy weather still in show, and time permitting, another game took place. This time it was Ripon who came out the stronger side from the start, quickly taking the score to 0-5. The lead was stretched as Ripon won the ball on their own line-out (0-10). This was again turning into a very physical and strongly contested game, with both sides taking a few knocks and making substitutions. It was Ripon once more who scored to make it 0-15 at half-time. The pace did not slacken again from the restart, with 10 minutes of end-to-end playing and every ball being chased down and challenged. York were much more into the game this second half, but it was Ripon who scored next (0-20). In the remaining few minutes York were rewarded for their persistence and character, with Toby P making it 5-20. Oliver won the ball from a Ripon line-out and allowed Steele to take the final score to 10-20. An excellent game from 2 hard-working sides.