Yarnbury 9

North Ribblesdale 14

A HARD-earned victory underlined the progress that Ribb have made this season as they made it nine wins of their last 11 league games writes Trevor Graveson.

It confirmed as well that they have an ability to adopt different tactics to suit varying circumstances. Recent high scoring performances on firm grounds against Ripon and Huddersfield were consigned to memory. This was a close fought encounter in heavy conditions against a confident home side but Ribb turned in a display full of character and ability, absorbing first half home pressure when facing wind and slope and then striking two decisive blows with quality tries after the break.

Early on there was no hesitancy in Ribb's play as Yarnbury sought to make progress by direct routes around the fringes of the forward exchanges. Any gains through these channels were soon blocked. Although a Galbraith penalty gave the home side the lead, the Settle outfit dropped into a sound defensive routine that denied any try-scoring opportunities.

The vast majority of possession was Yarnbury's but Ribb continued to contest the hard yards and although a second penalty was added, the home side had to resort to the kick through to try to turn the defence. That also yielded no reward and Ribb must have been quietly satisfied at halftime.

In the second half Ribb were able to throw off their defensive shackles and they snatched the lead with a fine try. It came, paradoxically, from clean lineout ball (a rarity for Ribb in this match) followed by good handling and support which resulted in Michael Carr going over.

Sean Kennedy converted.

Ribb now had the upper hand and when a fiercely driven maul made inroads, the backs made good use of the space to send Walker crashing over. Kennedy added a second conversion to make it 14-6.

Yarnbury heads dropped at this stage while Ribb's enthusiasm never wavered but no further scores came their way and a third Galbraith penalty heralded a late flurry of Yarnbury pressure. Ribb resisted that and eventually took the action upfield for a relatively comfortable finish and two more league points.

Not many visitors come away from Brownberry Lane with a victory and Ribb's was based on a wholehearted team effort although the back row was heavily involved. Matafeo and Carr continued their fine form and on this occasion Matt Boatwright was the third member of the trio and he turned in a very creditable display.

The pack worked very hard, providing a firm scrum platform and contesting other phases vigorously to compensate for the lineout problem.

As usual Neil Gemmell took the correct options and his young half back partner Kennedy made a useful contribution, not least in defence. Defence is a feature that runs through the Ribb side, an essential element in grinding out wins like this.

Unfortunately the two points gained were not enough to move them up the table, and they still occupy seventh place, although their 20 points tally is shared with defeated opponents Yarnbury and Pontefract.

Nevertheless, the local side have a four point cushion between themselves and the bottom clubs and victory this coming Saturday against Hull should mean that it will be impossible for Ribb to be caught up in the danger zone.