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RIPLEY RHINOS 1st XV 8 - 10 LEESBROOK 2nd XV
SECURITY PLUS PENNANT LEAGUE DIVISION GROUP 4
Saturday 29th March 2008
Rhinos scheduled game against East Leake 2nds in the Pennant League was conceded by the visitors who couldn't raise a side, so some quick shuffling saw Leesbrook 2nds come to Mill Hill instead on a wet and windy day for a previously rained off league fixture. Ripley's new opponents brought a strong side but the home team had a strong unit out under the captaincy of Zeique Robinson. Ripley had the wind coming diagonally from behind in the first half and put some early pressure on Leesbrook, looking strong in the lineout - hooker Carl Whitley finding Robinson at the front and No. 8 Joe Frew in the middle with ease - and holding their own in the pack against a sizeable opposition. Fly half Kim Burden used his boot to good effect and move Rhinos into Leesbrook territory. The visitors used the rolling maul to good effect to pressure Ripley and almost made to the line on one occasion but a great steal from Frew saw Burden clear the danger. The Leesbrook backs thought they had the beating of Ripley but when Rhinos moved up together as a unit they forced the visitors back over the gain line. Rhinos profited from pressure when Leesbrook conceded a penalty at the ruck and full back Dave Trubee slotted the kick for the lead. Better followed when pressure from the Ripley backline chasing a kick saw Leesbrook hack the ball back 30 yards towards their own line and centre David Owen was on hand to receive an offload from the chasers and pirouette over the line to score his eighth try of the season. Trubee missed with a couple more kicks before the break to leave Rhinos going into half-time 8-0 ahead.
The second half was always going to be tough for Ripley playing into the wind and the driving rain. Leesbrook got their driving maul going again but Rhinos held firm and when they could, ran the ball into their opponents half. Frew picked up from a scrum just outside his 22 and broke upfield, making 50 metres before releasing the backline who almost broke through but Leesbrook scrambled it clear. Back came the visitors with more attacking but again Ripley held firm; the pack drove lower to stay solid in the scrum and the tackling from all was commendable. An astute kick from Burden almost saw Ripley through but the Leesbrook winger eventually brought it under control metres from his own line, his subsequent sideways run seemed to be putting his team under more pressure but an offload to a straight running colleague who had spotted a disjointed Rhino defensive line put Leesbrook away and upfield, eventually leaving a 2 on 1 on Trubee and a score under the posts. They managed to miss the conversion so continued to trail 8-5. Ripley were under pressure again but were holding firm and it took Trubee hashing a defensive clearance to gift Leesbrook the wining try nine minutes from time. Ripley tried to work the ball downfield but the defensive effort had taken its toll and they didn't have much left to give and so came out 10-8 losers at the final whistle.
In the final analysis, Ripley weren't as sharp as they could have been and could have made more of their opportunities in both halves to make the game safe. They didn't and Leesbrook had enough about them to score twice and nick the points. Rhino's player of the match was No. 8 Joe Frew whose offence and defence made him the stand out player for the maroons.
Rhinos don't have a match in this country next weekend as the men travel to Amsterdam on tour and face matches against Hilversum on Saturday and Nieuwegen on Sunday.
Rhino's rugby training for both men and women is from 7pm-9pm on Thursdays on the floodlit Astroturf at Mill Hill School in Ripley - all new players are welcome - for more details ring 07816 779018.