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DIOK 1st XV 99 - 0 RIPLEY RHINOS 1st XV
RHINO'S TOUR OF HOLLAND
Saturday 5th April 2008
Ripley Rhinos took in two matches in their tour of Holland, basing themselves in Amsterdam and playing teams around an hour's travel from their hotel. The tour company organised both matches, different from the original fixtures, on the maroon's behalf so Rhinos travelled to Diok RFC without knowing anything about their opponents apart from the fact they have won the Dutch National Championship ten times in the past eighteen years.
It was slightly concerning for the visitors that there weren't many home side players there to greet them before the game but a squad of 22 young and fit first teamers already out on the pitch warming up. Worst suspicions were realised as the home side's first team lined up against skipper Zeique Robinson's men. Rhinos began brightly and some decent kicking from half backs Dave Trubee and Will Evans, allied to good lineout work from Robinson and No. 8 Joe Frew put Ripley into Diok territory for the first ten minutes. The Rhinos scrum were holding their own and things looked good. Diok then turned over a ball and spread it wide, quickly and went in to score from halfway. This opened the flood gates such that the score at half-time was 58-0 to the home side. They played flowing rugby, breathtaking at times, and whilst Rhinos missed a few tackles, the quality of the players against them was to be applauded. Unfortunately Rhinos weren't clapping, just trying their best to tackle and stem the flow.
All the squad gave their best throughout the game, the tackling of winger Nick Beswick a highlight as he dumped the Dutch international second row he found with the ball after an inspiring kick off chase, and the team kept their heads and spirits intact. The second half major objective was just achieved as they held their hosts to only 41 more points in the second half and saw them come off 99-0 winners over the Rhinos.
This was a learning tool for some of the more inexperienced Rhinos as they could see what amateur rugby players can achieve and set them targets to aspire to. The home club apologised after the match but they were using it as a warm-up to their game this Wednesday against a Dutch National XV. Ripley nevertheless showed the home club what post-match spirit was all about and made sure that Diok will remember the visit of the Rhinos for years to come. Rhino's star man was winger Nick Beswick whose tackling put full Dutch internationals backwards into the mud on a regular basis.
Rhino's rugby training for both men and women is from now back under natural light from 6.45pm-8pm on Thursdays at the back of the Beehive pub in Ripley - all new players are welcome - for more details ring 07816 779018.