Ripon 10

North Ribblesdale 20

RIPON finally got their Yorkshire Shield second round game underway at Mallory Park and the rest from the grind of league struggle seemed to relax players and spectators alike.

Ripon has not always been a fruitful hunting ground for Ribb and with several first team players missing, they needed to be at their best to make progress into the next round.

A first glance at Ribb's line-up saw an experienced pack of forwards and a youthful back line, with three 18-year-olds - Martin Hughes at fly half, Ben Topham in the centre and Stephen Cowperthwaite on the wing. All came out with credit and should go on to be regulars in the first team.

The early exchanges saw Ribb under pressure at the scrum and line out but they were superior in the loose.

Good work was spoilt by over-enthusiasm in both Ribb's play and the use of the referee's whistle.

Fortunately, Ripon's kicker was having an off day but his side did take the lead when, not for the first time, Ribb were heaved off their own scrum ball. Play moved into the corner and good driving play ended with the home side's No 8 going over for a try.

A conversion was added and a penalty for offside put Ribb 10-0 in arrears.

This last score seemed to sting Ribb into action and good runs by Mick Carr and Ryan Kirkbride saw Ribb finally camped in Ripon territory. A rolling maul was set up and Philip Pawson was forced over, John Hughes adding the conversion to make it 10-7 at halftime.

With the wind now at their backs, Ribb were soon on the offensive in the second half, mainly through use of John Hughes' trusty left boot.

When Russell Howarth's pick up and drive from a scrum 10 metres short produced a try for second row Dean Stacy, Hughes converted to put Ribb in front.

In deteriorating weather, moving the ball wide was proving dangerous and Ripon pounced on a dropped ball to hack on. They failed to control the ball and Hughes' kick again relieved the pressure.

With heavy rain now falling, the game became bogged down in a midfield stalemate.

Ribb kept the pressure on the home defence and two further penalties were converted to complete the scoring.

Ribb's reward is a third successive away trip,