North Ribblesdale 31 Leodiensians 7

With scheduled opponents Penrith otherwise engaged Leos stepped in at short notice to visit Grove Park - no doubt undertaking the journey with some reluctance having failed to appear back in November for the regular fixture, writes Trevor Graveson.

Actually they held their game together quite well because Ribb raced into a 24-0 lead within half an hour and it would not have been unusual for a side in that position to go down to a much heavier defeat. But the Dalesmen took their foot off the gas, were disrupted by a couple of injuries and Leos got themselves in better shape defensively.

The game began rather unusally with Ribb stalwarts Kevin Harrison and Nick Cook taking the field for Leos, filling in for players delayed in traffic. And they did their duty well enough for 10 minutes or so, but during that time two tries from Gareth Evans had put Ribb clear.

The first came following some excellent handling and support play with forwards and backs showing good skills to defy the monsoon-like conditions and the second following a powerful individual run after the fullback was sent on his way by a clever pass from John Hughes. And Hughes added the conversion to the second score to give Ribb a 12-0 lead.

The Dalesmen continued in impressive form and Leos were fortunate not to concede further tries, but they held on for a while before winger Simon Spensley finished with pace down the right.

Shortly afterwards Ryan Kirkbride's fine support play was rewarded when he finished off an attack down the same flank and Hughes converted.

Leos for their part scarcely crossed halfway but when they did get into home territory they made their presence felt with a well-worked try.

The torrential rain continued to fall and in worsening conditions the second half became rather a lottery.

Unfortunately for Ribb they lost back row forwards Michael Carr and Kirkbride and Harrison and Cook fulfilled their intended roles as replacements, returning to the fray this time in home colours.

The highlight of the half was another try for Spensley who was put away from halfway outpacing the cover before beating the fullback on the outside.

Hughes, who struck the ball well all afternoon, kicked his third conversion to take the score to 31-7 and that is how it finished as the referee mercifully brought things to a premature end to allow players and spectators to take shelter.

This Saturday sees Ribb play their final home league game when Ashington are due at Grove Park. The Northumberland side do not seem to be the power that they were and they currently lie next to bottom in North East Division Two in grave danger of relegation. Indeed if they lose to Ribb their fate may well be sealed so a tough battle can be anticipated.

At the time of going to press the Ribb side is not known but no doubt they will hope to welcome back John Moore and Alan Thwaite, who both missed the Leos game, and perhaps Kirkbride's and Carr's injuries will not prove too serious.

Incidentally it looks increasingly like three sides will drop from the division and although there are four teams currently below Ribb the Dalesmen in theory need a further point to make relegation impossible.

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