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BIRSTALL 1st XV 34 - 5 RIPLEY RHINOS 1st XV
FRIENDLY
Saturday 12th October 2002
Rhinos took an again under-strength side to take on Leicestershire side Birstall in this friendly. Ripley borrowed players from a generous Birstall team but still started a man down. Rhinos began slowly in the rain and wind and did well to hold out their hosts for the first ten minutes before they conceded two quick tries, one of them being converted. Rhinos then began to exert some attacking pressure of their own, bombarding the home full-back with a series of towering kicks that he struggled to deal with in the slippery conditions but the bounce of the ball from these attacks never seemed to come towards Ripley. Danny Wilson excelled on his wing in stopping any attacks ran at him and full-back Steve Harrison showed his pace in turning and hauling a Birstall break just short of the line to ensure Ripley only went in 12-0 behind at the break.
The start of the second half was Rhino's best attacking spell and Birstall were pushed back by the continual pick and drive tactics the Ripley pack adopted, ably supported by the backline. One such series of phases saw the visitors threaten the home line only to see them breakaway and score the try that really took the game beyond the black & whites on the hour. Rhinos quickly responded when skipper Dave Trubee saw a gap up the blind wing and charged in to touch down but Birstall hit back, again having the run of the ball from another threatening Ripley attack, taking back up the field to score. With scrum-half Neil Murcott having hobbled from the pitch just after half-time, Rhino's twelve men tired in the last quarter to conceded two soft tries and add a less then flattering scoreline to a match that was far from being one-sided.
Ripley proved their ability to attack in the period either side of half time and will look to take that into next week's league match at Southwell 3rds but must move up as a faster defensive unit in order to pressure more experienced teams such as Birstall.
Ripley are still on the lookout for players of any ability, of either sex, who are interested in playing - ring 07816 779018 for more details.