North Ribblesdale RFC

This  was one that got away , playing against a strong wind Ribb , due in part to two  excellent penalties by Mick Thwaite and a try by Andy Thwaite allowed Ribb to claw back from fourteen three down at half time.With the strong second half  breeze at their back Ribb should have won but they failed to capitalise on the wind and played as much in their own half as their opponents despite the weather advantage.

However Ribb were much changed from last weeks winning side with scrum Nathan Harding missing and a new centre partnership.and despite giving away two soft first half tries they played well enough to win the game.

Playing with the wind  Wetherby's massive pack capitalised on dominant scrum ball for their number eight to go in under the posts for a converted try.From the kick off Wetherby gave away a penalty on their ten metre line,Mick Thwaite converted a very difficult kick.

From the kick off Ribb worked the ball into Wetherby's half but gave away a penalty ,a booming kick ended in the Ribb twenty two ,from the line out Wetherby passed the ball off the top of the line out to the hooker who ran in unopposed due to slack marking, thuis was converted.

Strangely after Ryan Sumner's dominant game the week before it was not until thirty minutes when he was given some go forward ball which duly used to punch a big hole in the home defence, quick ball and good hands put Skipper Andy Thwaite in for a try conveted by Mick Thwaite.Fourteen  ten .Ribb used the kick off well and another run by Ryan Sumner forced a penalty which Mick Thwaite converted to put the score at fourteen thirteen at half time.

Ribb were now favourites with the wind at their back  and took the lead for the first time with another Mick Thwaite penalty.Wetherby's big men were visibly  tiring.However Wetherby started their second half scoring  with a well worked back move scoring a converted try to retake the lead at twenty one sixteen a good run by Chris Briggs set up another penalty for Mick Thwaite to bring them in touch at twenty one nineteen. With ten minutes to go it was anyone's game and Wetherby took the initiative with a forward drive leading to a converted try under the posts .

For once Ribb kicked the ball long and forced a scrum on the Wetherby twenty two, from an attacking position Omari Kaup-Samuels darted over for a convered try to put Ribb within two points, but they could not force the final score and lost by two points.

A resilient if flawed performance, Ribb repeatedly clawed their way back into the game, they did not use the wind in the second half and  could have used Ryan Sumner more in the first half.Wetherby were a big side and not as fit as Ribb and repeatedly driving them back with wind assisted kicks would have disheartened them.

John Padley once again the man of the match ,Mick Thwaites goal kicking was excellent particularly against the wind ,the scrum and line out functioned well .Tom Maudsley as substitute played well in the second half and Kyle Handy tackled well.