North Ribblesdale 24 Hull 30

NORTH Ribblesdale RU's league fixtures ended in a disappointing and somewhat controversial manner at Grove Park on Saturday, although, as with the season overall, there was much to admire in the home side's play.

There is little doubt that Hull's refusal to appear on the scheduled day - and to reject the alternative date - caused far great inconvenience of the Settle side than their opponents. Last week's injuries, coupled with unavailability, meant that the home side's line-up lacked half a dozen regulars and an already difficult situation worsened during the game when both half backs had to withdraw in the first quarter.

Despite this handicap, the home side regrouped and put in a tremendous collective effort, winning the try count by four to three, but enjoying scant fortune as the boot of former Welsh international Gary Pearce guided his team of reluctant travellers to victory with a 15-point haul.

In the early stages, the home side showed plenty of promise and they soon led when Sean Kennedy scampered clear on the right for a fine try. Hull seemed to offer little threat at that stage, but the situation changed dramatically as the East Yorkshire side scored two converted tries in as many minutes.

The first, frustratingly, came from a Ribblesdale scrum, but a misplaced pass and a kindly bounce put Hull's speedy left wing in the clear for a 50-yard dash to the line, Neil Gemmell being left in his wake clutching a torn hamstring.

From the restart the visitors outflanked the home defence again to leave Hull 14-5 ahead.

The match was being played at a frantic pace and the Dalesmen came back with a try by hooker Peter Humphreys to mark his first appearance of the season, but with the action continuing thick and fast, the home side lost stand-off Kennedy with an injury which prevented his return.

Pearce then added a penalty and produced the sleight of hand which created a try at the posts to leave the visitors in control at 24-10.

The Ribb back division at this stage had a very unfamiliar look, with flanker Mick Carr at scrum-half, Stuart Towns his partner and second-team flanker Lister Brown at centre, but the patched-up side warmed to the challenge. In a memorable spell shortly before half-time, fierce attacks on the Hull line brought tries for Carr and Towns, both of which Towns converted to leave the score at 24-24 after a remarkable first half.

The second period saw Ribblesdale opt for a tight, driving game - not surprisingly given that they had ten forwards on the field! - and these tactics worked well, with Hull forced onto the back foot. The direct approach repeatedly took play to Hull's try line, but not across it, and although the pressure was constant, only a solitary penalty chance came Ribblesdale's way and that went wide.

In the modern game, spells of territorial dominance invariably bring a string of penalties, but on this occasion the home side's constant pressure failed to yield further penalty chances and Hull's defence held firm.

After absorbing the pressure, the visitors then enjoyed their own attacking spell, but in their case, Pearce made the most of the territorial advantage by dropping a goal and kicking a penalty. These two scores proved to be decisive, for although Ribblesdale showed great resilience to force the issue, they were unable to claim the crucial score.

Despite the defeat, there were several areas of consolation for the Grove Park men, not least the performance of Humphreys, his front-row colleague Steven Heal and wingman Bryan McGeoch. All three were excellent and took their chance to shine at a higher level impressively. So too was Carr, who had yet another tremendous game.

Further solace arrived in the shape of news that Pocklington had been beaten, giving the Dalesmen seventh place in what has been a very competitive Yorkshire Division One.