MATCH REPORT WRITTEN BY
RUGBY
UNION –
Skipton
gave their promotion hopes a boost when they came away with a narrow victory in
a pulsating derby match against North Ribblesdale at
Skipton
scored a try and a penalty to Ribb's unconverted try with the deciding factor
being an uncharacteristic goal-kicking off day by Ribb's Jonathan Richards who
missed three kicks, one under the posts.
Skipton's
front five were given a severe mauling in the scrum, line-outs were even and
the midfield contest was inconclusive. Ribb's scrum supremacy allowed them to
dominate territory for long periods but a very stubborn defence by Skipton gave
them a narrow victory.
The pitch was
heavy after overnight rain and gusty showery weather made open rugby difficult,
but not impossible.
Ribb
kicked off into the wind playing away from the clubhouse. The kick was not
gathered and Howarth and Ryan Kirkbride made ground into the Skipton half and
were awarded a scrum. The home supporters were silenced when the Skipton scrum
pushed Ribb back. This was the last time in the match the Ribb scrum did not
dominate, although for a period at the start of the first half Skipton gave
stern resistance.
The
Ribb pack deserved to be on the winning side, but Skipton with limited
possession scored a try by speedy winger Alex Naylor in the second half and
powerful centre Brydon Maiava did kick a long-range penalty in the first half.
In
a game dominated by midfield defence, kicking for position was crucial. Ribb's
kicking game in the first half was at times poor giving Skipton's full back Lee
Battle the opportunity to drive Ribb deep into their own half with booming
kicks.
Ribb
belatedly realised the error and started to drive from the base of the scrum
pushing Ribb to the Skipton line. A scrum on the five metre line looked certain
to produce a score as Skipton was pushed back, but a loss of control at the
base saw the ball squirt away al-lowing Skipton to clear.
Skipton
regrouped and took play into Ribb's half. Ribb transgressed, handling the ball
in the ruck and allowed Skipton's Maiava to kick for goal from forty metres.
This seemed optimistic even with the wind. However he converted with a kick
that didn't rise much above the crossbar but still sailed over.
Ribb
had a couple more first half chances notably Chapman releasing debutant
17-year-old winger Simon Bolland who showed good pace to round two players only
being stopped by the covering Boatwright.
When
the half-time whistle sounded, at 3-0 down with the wind at their backs in the
second half things looked promising for the home side.
Skipton
moved prop Moa Meki, who had taken a severe mauling, to number eight bringing
on Malcolm Willsher at prop. This stiffened the Skipton scrum and for a while
they achieved parity and the tactically aware Adam Oldfield and his back row
came into the game with Michael Snowdon and Meki prominent.
Stand
off Ian Bartlett kicked Ribb into the Skipton 22, where the home side forced
Skipton to touch and drove from the line-out. They wrecked Skipton's defensive
scrum and drove them back with their put-in Skipton's front five collapsed the
scrum but the referee, who had a very good game, was having none of it and gave
Ribb a penalty.
Ribb
opted for goal which Richards narrowly missed. Ribb still pressed and further
pressure brought two more penalties, one under the posts but both were missed.
Skipton
had Matthew Boatwright sin-binned for a line-out offence but even against seven
men Ribb could not get over the line.
Then
Skipton put some possession together and moved the ball left putting in Naylor
for an unconverted try.
This
galvanised the Ribb pack who had had their quietest spell and they repeatedly
drove Skipton back scoring a try by David Fox from a rolling maul.
The
missed conversion was immaterial as Ribb needed three points for the win and
from the kick-off they attacked again but the Skipton defence was equal to the
task and despite a final surge which took them to Skipton's line they could not
get over.
This
was a pulsating local derby played very hard but in good spirit. Although Ribb
played well enough to win Skipton took the points and scored a good try against
the run of play which proved to be crucial.
For
Ribb the whole of the pack were tremendous, Dakin had a good defensive game and
Fox and Simon Chapman were very sound. Bolland had an impressive debut and will
figure in the team for a long time.