BAILDON survived a difficult start to gain a bonus-point 35-5 win over visitors North Ribblesdale and keep their top-of-the-table hopes very much alive in Counties Two Yorkshire.

A maximum five points from their re-arranged game at home to Harrogate Pythons next Saturday, which was abandoned on September 17 with the score at 7-7 due to a neck injury to a Pythons player, would put the Jenny Laners a point clear of Wath.

As it happens, Baildon are still fourth with that game in hand after a generally satisfactory display against the men from Settle, with fly-half and head coach Jake Duxbury singling out his pack for praise.

He said of Ribb: “They came out of the blocks. We knew that up the hill they were not going to kick it off (the pitch) and it was up to us to hit them low, hard and early and not let them get a head of steam.

“After 10 minutes, I thought that we were in for a long day at the office if I am honest, but I am thankful about the way that it turned out.

“I didn’t know whether a 20-point lead would be enough at half-time (Baildon led 25-5) as I have seen a 30-point turnaround, but the lads stuck in and wore them down.

“When you are coming up the hill in the second half, to not concede a point, especially with that wind, is an absolute winner and our defence was massive, and without the forwards we would have done nothing here.

“The front eight were great and we hit fire with fire. Jack Chapman was sensational at No.8, but to single him out would be harsh on the rest of the forwards.”

A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off in memory of Baildon legend John ‘Bull’ Taylor, a fruitful source of line-out ball at Jenny Lane, who has died aged 85.

Baildon had first use of the slope but Ribb were on the board after seven minutes, with full-back Will Davidson coming into the line to put lock Adam Middleton over.

Duxbury missed a penalty three minutes later but the first points for the hosts weren’t long in coming after a nice move between centre Andy Robinson and winger Danny Belcher put the latter over in the 13th minute.

Duxbury converted and, after a good run by Ribb centre Alex Dew, Baildon hit back with a try out of nothing, with full-back Owain Griffiths galloping 80 metres to score after intercepting.

Duxbury added a penalty, as did Robinson (after Duxbury was receiving treatment on his left hamstring), and Baildon ended the half on top, with lock Ollie Murphy knocking on in a promising position before he supported Duxbury for a try in added-time, with Robinson’s conversion making it 25-5.

An ankle tap then prevented a potential bonus-point try for Duxbury, but they made up for that near-miss two minutes into the second half.

Winger Will Eastell, in only his second start for the Jenny Laners, galloped down the right wing and kicked ahead, but then had to win a tug-of-war for the ball with a Ribb defender before spinning out of a tackle to score in the corner.

Ribb had an interception try for Davidson ruled out before flanker Harrison Strauss completed the scoring for Baildon, crossing the line to score in the 72nd minute.

As for where Baildon might finish this season, Duxbury said: “We just have to keep progressing, keep challenging ourselves and always hunt down that next win.

“If we keep doing our jobs, hopefully by the end of the season we will be in the top half of the table and somewhere in it (the mix).”