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DELFT 2nd XV 24 - 17 RIPLEY RHINOS 1st XV
RHINO'S TOUR OF HOLLAND
Sunday 6th April 2008
The second match of Rhino's Dutch tour saw them travelling down the E19 to Delft. The home club were there to greet Ripley in numbers but were apologising that due to a re-arranged 1st XV match, the 2nds were left short of three players. Never a problem for Ripley as props Gareth Davies and Nick Beswick and flanker Dave Trubee donned a green shirt to play against their own team.
It was clear from the kick off, on an extremely warm afternoon that the sides were evenly matched. The lineout was more in Rhinos favour thanks to the efforts of the lifters and jumpers Zeique Robinson and Joe Frew but the scrum hugely contested throughout. Ripley had the best of the first half but tired hands and minds didn't always make the best decision on when to pass. Ripley took the lead when fly half Will Evans jinked his way through the Delft defence from fifteen metres to score. The home side struck back and created an overlap to touch down and convert to take the lead. Ripley countered with a period of sustained and quality attacking that saw Evans almost to the line and No. 8 Karl Ickeringill on hand to take the offload and touch down under the posts, with Evans converting. Ripley had the lead but an excellent break for Beswick, followed by the supporting Davies set up the second try for the hosts. Just before half-time a loose pass in the Rhino backline saw Delft in to score and lead 17-12 at the break.
The second half saw more flowing rugby with second row Simon Midgley a constant carrier for the maroons and Kim Burden and David Owen running hard in the backline at the Dutch side. Both teams tired in the heat but the battle was still on and a try from Owen, by now playing on the flank, in the corner levelled the scores with fifteen minutes to go. Delft then broke through and scored with six minutes remaining, and despite Rhinos being camped on the home side's line for the last three minutes of the match, they couldn't find the try that could have given them the chance to draw.
This was a proper tour match - contested hard and well by two teams wanting to win - and perhaps the draw would have been the fairest result. Rhino's player of the match was Simon Midgley with his best performance in a maroon shirt. Both sides then enjoyed the post match atmosphere in the clubhouse and laid down a friendship for the future.
Ripley's thoughts return to all things English rugby this Saturday with the 1sts finishing their Pennant League campaign at home to Keyworth 2nds and the 2nds travelling to Leicester to play Cosby 2nds both matches kicking off at 3pm. Sunday sees the Ladies at home to Newark Ladies, kicking off at 2.30pm.
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.