Vale of Lune outplayed in Yorkshire Dales

MATCH REPORT: North Ribblesdale 34 Vale of Lune 17

With Storm Amy halting many activities across the region, it was touch-and-go that this NW2 fixture away at Settle would go ahead at all.

The pitch was eventually deemed dry enough, and the league leaders set off to North Yorkshire to see how the home side had won back-to-back promotions into this division. 

Head coach Mark Goodman had to make changes due to the non-availability of some players. Hall, Mayall, Abdelghafar, Briggs and Swarbrick were out of contention, putting Gledhill, Batty, Busby and Leighton in the hot seats.

Playing in blue and white hoops, North Ribblesdale gained early ground, keeping play in the Vale's half. Constant testing of the Vale's defences earned a penalty kick, and a three point lead.

Birthday boy (number not disclosed), Chris Ramwell's tackling heroics prevented a certain try, but N. Ribb's persistence was soon rewarded with a converted try near the posts.

The Vale were 10 points down when the first changes were made. Archie Fowler fortified the forward campaign and they soon produced a trademark lineout/driving maul try, finished by Harm Dokter. Gledhill added the conversion and the difference was narrowed to a mere three. 

Whereas the home side were given space to run at the Vale, they were ruthlessly efficient in denying the Vale any chance to do the same. Big tackles went in as Vale players caught the ball. It was a smart tactic which paid off.

N. Ribb's No. 10 sent a speculative punt across the field into the deadball area. Vale fingers could not claim it, and the N. Ribb winger pounced to claim their second.

A more direct route along the left flank gave the Yorkshire men their third to bring the half time score to 20 - 7. 

McFarlane suffered a shoulder injury and had to leave the field. The front row was amended again, but the backs found their rhythm with a neat passing play from right to left. Ramwell gave the crucial pass for Busby to complete the move.

Things were looking better for Vale when a N. Ribb player was dispatched to the bench for 10 minutes for a high tackle. The resultant numerical advantage allowed the Vale to capitalise, with winger Dan Leighton crossing the line to score on the right. 

Again only three points separated the sides and it was anybody's game, until a moment of class from the N. Ribb backs left the Vale chasing their sprinters from the half way line to the tryline. In the dying seconds, N. Ribb's forwards drove for the line in a series of scrums in the Vale's five metre area. The referee deemed the Vale's collapsing of the scrums unsatisfactory, and a penalty try was awarded.  

Vale hooker Harm Dokter was singled out by the home side for a fine performance. As they left the pitch, there was a mood of defiance rather than one of defeat.

The bubble of invincibility may have been popped, but the Vale will regroup, review and return in time for next week's home clash against the new table toppers, Sandbach. Kick off at 3pm. 

Team:  M. Bradshaw, H. Dokter, R. Pillow, H. Fellows (c), J. Crompton, J. Sutcliffe, S. Wallbank, J. Ayrton (c), J. Batty, K. Gledhill, J. McFarlane, H. Finan, A. Bolton, R. Busby, C. Ramwell.      Reps:  A. Fowler, , G. Oyston. D. Leighton.