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UTTOXETER 1st XV 97 - 17 RIPLEY RHINOS 1st XV
FRIENDLY
Saturday 19th April 2008
Rhinos had played Uttoxeter's second string twice at home and won both, and once away and just lost, so were looking forward to another tight encounter as they travelled into Staffordshire. What they got instead was Uttoxeter's first team deciding for whatever reason to takeover the fixture to pit themselves against the maroons.
Ripley had a few key players missing and had called on several of the second team to plug the gaps, so this was likely to be even more of a mismatch, and so it proved. Skipper Zeique Robinson won the toss and had the benefit of the wind in the first half. The home side came at Ripley hard from the kick off but Rhinos defended stoutly only to concede two tries in the opening quarter with some dozy defending undoing their previous good work. The Rhinos scrum were under strong pressure with recent propping convert Nick Beswick being given a torrid time by his opposite numbers but refusing to be cowed. Scrum half Dave Trubee had some success with box kicks with winger Jamie Price being eager to chase and worry his opposite number with his pace. Ripley had their first sustained period of pressure which culminated in being given a penalty six metres out with Trubee tapping and going and being driven over the line by fly half Will Evans to score. Evans converted to reduce the deficit to 12-7. Ripley had already lost influential No. 8 Karl Ickeringill to an early knee injury and his replacement Simon Midgley then had to go off with an ankle problem as the home side intensified their commitment. The visitors tired under the onslaught and conceded three more tries to their fitter and more experienced opponents. When Rhinos could get in the home side's faces they made a difference and once such strong defensive line saw Uttoxeter spill the ball and Price swooped on it, kicked sixty metres up his wing and beat the cover defence to score. Uttoxeter scored again to go into halftime 38-12 ahead.
The second half was always going to be difficult for a very tired Ripley. Tackles were being missed on a regular basis as legs and minds were in constant use. The hosts showed an admirable ruthlessness in not letting up their attacking play at any time, nor their attitude throughout, though it had no place in this mismatch of a friendly. The referee also stuck to the rules throughout and threatened Ripley with yellow cards for repeated infringements as they did everything they could to hold up their opponents try scoring opportunities. Beswick continued to be outstanding, tackling everyone who came near him, chasing and winning two kick offs and continuing to battle against Uttoxeter in the scrum. He got his just rewards near the end when Rhinos showed some grit to hammer at the Uttoxeter line and he was on hand to barrel over from close range to score. The home side finished off winning the match 97-17.
Quite how this game benefited Uttoxeter is open to debate. Rhinos expected to play their second string and looked forward to the game but instead got a good, ruthless first team. Ripley kept battling and were proud to have prop Nick Beswick on their side whose performance lifted all his teammates as he won their plaudits as player of the match.
Rhinos finish the season with a trip to AEI Rugby 1sts this coming Saturday, followed by a Wednesday evening game at Police HQ against Derbyshire Constabulary. The Ladies play their last home league match against Newark on Sunday, kick off 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.