U13 RIPON vs YORK (AWAY)

An outbreak of common sense this morning, with no crimes against fashion on display, though I suspect that Mr Harrison was parading something sinister under his topcoat. Mr Smart had recently returned to planet earth, though was still obviously suffering from travel sickness judging by his pasty pallor.

On with the Game. Ripon have the advantage of the wind behind them for the first half.

First Half

York kick-off and get the added benefit of a penalty early on; it’s kicked to the Ripon 10m line, and York get the line-out. The gusting wind takes the ball though and the line-out is judged to be not straight; scrum to Ripon at their 10m line. York playing well in these opening minutes, getting stuck into the tackles and rucks, and pressing Ripon back well into their half. Relief comes by way of a penalty to Ripon at their 22m line, and they clear it to half-way. Ripon win the line-out, but then knock-on; scrum to York. York get a penalty and gain valuable ground again by a great kick from Andre into the wind to within 5m of the Ripon try-line. Ripon win their line-out and work the play back further upfield, but then lose the ball, and Barney makes a storming run back to within 5m of the Ripon try-line, passing the ball nicely off to Will K to take it on, then to Andre who nearly gets through, but the ball just goes into touch. Couple of knock-ons, and it’s a scrum to Ripon 5m from their try-line, which they win; York keep pressing though and force a Ripon error to get a scrum, still close to the Ripon try-line. Unfortunately Ripon win against the head and mange to clear the ball through to their 22m line. Tom collects it though and takes it back forward; great teamwork and effort by York, working hard to make the break-through. Finally they are rewarded as Will K bursts through and opens the scoring (0-5); no conversion.

Ripon restart and the ball is taken by Connor. Then a series of errors and penalties against York in their own half; mainly for not getting back 10m when Ripon were trying to take their penalty. York losing a lot of territory through that, and Ripon break through on the wing, squeezing into the corner to equalise (5-5); no conversion.

York restart, but are penalised (offence unknown); then a slight knock-on by Ripon gives York a scrum. Period of looser play here by both teams, as they strive to gain the upper hand, but it’s mainly in the Ripon half. York keep pressing and are awarded a line-out 5m from the Ripon try-line; taken cleanly by Fraser, and the York Forwards drive a maul right up to the try-line; Will K comes out of there are bursts through again (5-10); no conversion.

Ripon restart and working hard to find a weakness in the York defence; lot of play around the York 22m line. Ripon get a scrum at the 22m line, which they win, but Andre wins the ball back and clears it through to half-way. Ripon win their line-out and take play back into York territory. Ripon get a penalty 10m from the York try-line, and continue to test the York defence, but it’s looking pretty solid. The pressure is relieved when York are awarded a penalty and clear it upfield. Half Time.

Second Half

Ripon kick-off the second half, playing into the wind this time. York send the ball straight back to half-way. Ripon win their line-out, and push into York territory. Steele clears the play with a terrific kick back to the Ripon 22m line. Ripon win their line-out, but York press them back deeper. Penalty against York (offence unknown) 5m from the Ripon try-line, and this allows Ripon to get the ball back to half-way. York come straight back though and take play deep into Ripon territory. The York Pack pressing the Ripon defence strongly and driving the ball forward in a maul from 5m out; it’s a battlefield on the try-line, but Will K makes it a hat-trick as he dives through again (5-15); no conversion.

Ripon restart and chase after the ball, but unfortunately knock it on at the York 10m line. The scrum to York is won and the ball cleared through to the Ripon 10m line. Ripon get a penalty (offence unknown), but then lose the advantage as they pass the ball forward. Play in mainly in the York half for this period of the game; York get a couple of scrums, but can’t clear their lines. Ripon pressing hard and come really close to scoring, but can’t get past that last 1m of York territory. Leo comes away with the ball, and takes play back up to the York 10m line, and looks as though he might break through the Ripon defence, but he’s taken into touch. The Ripon line-out is knocked forward by York, and Ripon get the scrum. Ben then launches the kick of the day, with a terrific clearance; the ball looks as though it’s going to roll past the Ripon try-line, but then it makes a jaunty right-hand turn and goes into touch about 5m from the try-line. Ripon win their line-out, and clear it back to the 10m line. York knock it on, and it’s a scrum to Ripon, but York win it against the head. York lose the advantage with a knock-on, and Ripon get another scrum around their 10m line. Penalty to Ripon (offence unknown). Play mainly in the Ripon half; York applying good pressure. Andre runs down the touchline from 10m out and scores (5-20); Connor converts (5-22).

Ripon restart, and the ball is taken by Connor, who kicks it back to the Ripon 22m line, where it rolls into touch. Ripon line-out is not straight; scrum to York. Andre blasts through again from 15m out (5-27); no conversion. No further scores. Full time.

Congratulations to both sides for a hard fought, tiring, and good-spirited match in challenging windy conditions.

Final Score Ripon 5-27 York