YORKSHIRE SILVER TROPHY

North Ribblesdale 46

Old Otliensians 17

OLD Otliensians lost 46-17 to a strong North Ribblesdale side in the quarter-final of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy on Saturday.

Morning sunshine turned into a dull, low-cloud, afternoon and reflected sell the sombre two-minute silence pre kick-off to acknowledge the cessation of World War One.

The flat, nicely presented pitch at Grove Park looked in good order and the Silver Trophy round one was under way.

If someone pits 14 men against 15 on a rugby field, most people might in the end expect a one-sided scoreboard.

However, sometimes 14 play as 16, with 'Ensians team outnumbered for large periods of the game this was certainly the case.

The loss of a forward to a red card midway through the first half was a severe blow to the ‘Ensians, for they were already having to defend fiercely in the face of sustained pressure from the hosts.

An early try for North Ribb was cancelled out by an ‘Ensians breakaway effort, when a home mistake allowed winger Nick Hesketh to kick through, keep control and gather for a try in the corner. With 20 minutes gone, the game was all-square at 5-5.

However, Ribblesdale had enjoyed most of the territory and possession and now with a man advantage, two converted tries around the 35-minute mark saw a very healthy home scoreline of 22-5.

The tide then turned, with ‘Ensians suddenly 'appearing' to have more players than Ribb; territory and possession belonged to the visitors and just before the interval, sustained pressure from the men in blue produced a succession of quickly-taken penalties and eventually an opportunity for Paddy Phipps to run cleverly, holding off the defence until near enough the line to cut through for a try.

The half-time talk at 22-10 was clearly positive, and ‘Ensians restarted as they had finished the first session, with a try almost immediately after a jinking run from Matt Peattie, converted by Will Cooper.

At 22-17, the game was a good one. Ribblesdale’s attack and defence were impressive and‘Ensians’ were equally so.

After 15 minutes of the second half, the hosts found their rhythm again and their pressure began to make a difference as the visitors tired.

Four tries, two converted, in the final quarter of the match merely emphasised the disparity in numbers and valiant though ‘Ensian efforts were, North Ribblesdale are a good side and were not to be denied and went on to run out 46-17 winners.

ARTHUR BARTLE