Rishies’ losing run stretches to three at North Ribb’

Kicking was out of the question in the fierce wind and driving rain, but it suited the home side’s forward orientated game while inhibiting the visitors’ expansive play.

Rishworthians successfully repelled Ribb’s pick and go tactics and always looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

It was in the scrums where they suffered most, but to have three penalty tries given against them was harsh, especially when one was given at a scrum 10 metres out.

It was a good start to the game as the visitors latched on to an early mistake for prop Phil Kershaw to pick up the loose ball and rumble over. There was no chance with the kick for Joe Billing.

Playing against the elements, Rishworthians were soon under pressure and at the first scrum near their line, the referee, without warning, awarded a penalty try.

It spurred the visitors on and with the only successful movement of the game they scored an outstanding try.

It came from a lineout, with the ball going along the line to left wing Anthony Shoesmith, who rounded his man and broke through a tackle to complete a 40-metre run to score in the corner.

Ribb levelled the scores though with a penalty in the front of the posts, which earned a yellow card for hooker Toby Muscat-Baron.

The half ended with a second penalty try at a scrum, again with no warning and a long way from the line, to give the home side a 17–10 lead.

There was just time for them to try another pick and go attempt, but it was well defended and held up over the line.

From the restart skipper Callum Heseltine gathered an awkwardly bouncing ball to set up a ruck. The ball came to No 8 Jacob Bower who set off from his own half in a 60 metre dash through the centre to score under the posts. Billing added the conversion to level.

A rolling maul appeared to be Ribb’s only real threat to Rishworthians’ line and it led to another scrum and the referee was just as quick to award a third penalty try.

The rest of the game saw the visitors on the attack, but they could not get over the line and had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Fortunately league leaders Roundhegians beat Rishworthians’ nearest challengers, Ripon, to keep them in third place still 13 points behind the Copley men.