With a break from 1st XV league action, Ripon put out a strong and buoyant Hornblowers squad, who made the short hop over to Starbeck, to take on local rivals Harrogate Pirates, the second string team of the Pythons. With a squad of 25 to pick from, the Blowers fielded a good blend of youth and experience and had significant strength in depth in every position. Braving the Baltic weather, a strong contingent of supporters travelled over to cheer the boys on and relish the entertainment on offer on the pitch.

A combination of grunt and grind, to accommodate the hosts’ forward oriented game plan and some effusive flair, including a plethora of “no look” passes, with varying degrees of success, depending on whether your name was Binks or Drane. Despite the elements, those on the pitch kept up the pace and intensity of play in all departments. Without a viable Hooker in the Pirates’ squad, the game was played with uncontested scrums throughout. We’ll never know how well Ripon would have done if they were competitive but they certainly made use of the base of the scrum to make good ground and set up countless attacking plays, Tom Sowerby leading the way from the outset.
With nine tries in total to one reply, this was a significant result for Ripon over the “ancient enemy” and one to secure the bragging rights over the fixture for some time to come. Adding more misery to the hosts was the effective boot of James Cooper, in converting seven of the nine tries and putting in a solid display of tactical kicking to boot.

Selection was a challenge, with good numbers to choose from and making sure everyone picked had some decent game time. Too numerous to mention with a bench of ten replacements the squad included some notable returnees to the fray though. Colt Zak Kirby excited on the Wing in his return to adult Rugby, with Dan Rayner and Dom Butler back in action after injury layoffs. Star of first half at least was the “Prodigal Son” Euan Findlay, returning to the game after a couple of years out and showing he’d lost nothing in terms of fitness and impact from the word go.

Ripon kicked off high through Cooper and Findlay was there to tap to Sowerby to make some yards. The move broke down with a penalty offence for holding on and so ended Ripon’s early momentum. A string of penalties saw the hosts gaining confidence and the game evened up for the rest of the first quarter. Binks broke the deadlock after Hooley fielded a kick to link with Butler. Recycling back across field, Cooper found a gap and put Binks away in the corner and with the missed conversion attempt, a 0 – 5 lead after 15 minutes. Findlay added to the scoresheet after a further five minutes with a simple scamper in from a five metre scrum. Touching down under the posts gave Cooper the angle he needed to convert for 0 – 12 and the Pirates foundering.

No more than a further two minutes passed before Kirby scored Ripon’s third. From the restart reception by Titchmarsh, Cooper looked to kick out but saw a gap in the closing defence and shipped out to Hooley. Picking up the baton, the effervescent Sam Stoddart galloped 40 metres up the touchline before exhaustion kicked in and he handed the ball on to someone younger and fitter. Cooper’s conversion made it 0 – 19 and the Pirates getting into deep water.

On the half hour mark, the insatiable Findlay struck again after a clean line out win by Neate with eyes wide open. Cooper set the ball moving before offloading to Findlay to cover the next 30 metres before kindly touching down under the posts again. Cooper’s conversion took the score to 0 – 26 and the Pirates looking all at sea. The last word of the half went to Stoddart before he finally succumbed to the dreaded Norovirus. Hooley made a characteristic incisive break out of defence and surged up the left touchline before handing on to Jacob Drane. Drane, guesting in the Centre, powered up the field to make a further 40 metres before being brought down inches from the line. Stoddart was on hand to take the pop pass and flop over the whitewash. Cooper converted again for 0 – 33 with the Pirates in stormy waters before the final whistle of the half.

The Hornblowers started the second half as strongly as the first with a break by Findlay that put Binks away for his second score of the game with just five minutes played. A difficult conversion by Cooper nudged the score up to 0 – 40 and the Pirates well and truly on the rocks. As the Ripon lead extended and the hosts efforts became less effective, so the game took on more of a theatrical aspect, with free-running and sleight of hand. Entertaining and thrilling as it was for most of the team, success generally comes from passing to one’s own team mates, as Jacob Drane found out to his embarrassment.

Next to add to the hosts’ misery was Komaitai on the 12 minute mark after a clean break from a scrum by Roebuck. Cooper just scuffed the kick wide for 0 – 45 and the Pirates looking washed up. Insult was added to injury when bright prospect Oscar Way followed up a break from Butler and Take to power over 30 metres, shrugging off three would be defenders on the way. Cooper got back into his groove to convert for 0 – 52 and the Pirates wrecked. The hosts then went through a bit of a purple patch as the final quarter opened, with a string of penalties from Ripon indiscretions. On 27 minutes, the Pirates finally put enough moves and momentum together to break their duck and score a converted try for 7 – 52.

Buoyed by their success, the Pirates continued their resurgence into the game and with Ripon somewhat disrupted by the team changes necessitated by getting all the replacements game time, the hosts pieced together some cohesive plays. No score arose from their efforts however, as Ripon gradually reorganised over the last few minutes and started playing to their strengths again. The last laugh went to Butler in the dying moments when a penalty gave him the opportunity to tap and go. The solo effort resulted in the Hornblowers’ final try and Cooper again eased the conversion over for the final score of 7 – 59 and the Pirates heading for Davy Jones’ Locker.

With the hearty Ripon supporters baying for another score to take them over the 60 mark, the final whistle brought an end to the proceedings and jubilation for everyone in blue.

A fine outing for Ripon who unfazed by the uncontested scrums, made the most of the diversity and skill mix of the available players and ignored the cold weather and difficult playing conditions, to outclass the opposition at every level. A good opportunity to test combinations of players rehabilitate some long-term wounded and keep competition for 1st XV places lively.

Next week, The Blues relish a fun-packed day at Mallorie Park when both 1st and 2nd XVs host Ossett. All supporters very welcome for the 2.15 kick off for both matches.