When champions collide

The anticipation to this weekends match has been building for some time as the two local ricals from the Harrogate District prepared to lock horns again. Since their first match as U7s eight years ago the games between the two sides have always been challenging and entertaining events.

As the fourth games this season between the two sides Ripon, the defending county champions, were looking to make it three wins from four matches against home side Harrogate, while the lads from Claro Road were looking to settle the scores after being handed two heavy defeats in the past two games.

With a number of the best age group players from Yorkshire on show hopes were high for a festival of high intense, edge of your seat, running rugby... however mother nature had a twist in store.

Any hope of running rugby went out of the window as the first flutters of snow met the players as they emerged from the changing rooms to take the field at Claro Road. With a heavy damp pitch and a cold wind blowing across the pitch it was clear that the weather was going to have a significant influence on the game. How much was not known as the game kicked off.

Early exchanges showed the intensity of all players as both teams tested out each others line-ups for weaknesses. Ripon brought one of, if not the best, defensive records to Claro Road this Sunday proved worthy holders of the title as attack after attack was halted through solid tackling.

Both teams knew that the game was going to be won up front and the home forwards began to edge the set pieces with solid performances in scrum and lineouts, with Max Vaux and Rory Cardwell combining to ensur clear posession for the home team. But the rucks proved the edge as Harrogate began to make inroads in the Ripon defence! Harrogate fly-half Harry Fewkes early attempts to move the ball wide to wings Luke Gair & Alistair Cameron-Jones proved unsuccessful through pressure defence by the Ripon centres. Closing down Callum Beasley and Dominic Marsh in mid-field, Fewkes switched tactics to route one with scrum-half Ollie Ward marshling his forwards. With Captain Colunn Troy, David Rowbotham and Scott Irvine at the front line the driving play of the pack began to make the difference.

However driving play needs support and Adis Talic, Bev Rainford and Brad Thompson stepped up to ensure the ball was retained. While the weather, and solid defence often led to turnovers the close driving play of the home pack was begining to tell.

While both teams had threatened their opponents line on occasions both teams kept a clean sheet. However, reflecting the finely balanced teams, after 20 minutes of the first half a spilled ball, from Marsh's midfield tackle, provided the opportunity for Irvine, displaying his footballing skills, to hack the ball down field. Showing also a fast pair of heels he kept ahead of the Ripon defence to kick the ball on further. Had the Harrogate Lock linked to winger Gair a try could have beckoned, as it was the home team flyer was ust beaten to the touch down by a lucky bounce and great cover defense by Ripon.

But the pressure was on and soon Harrogate, winning a scrum in the visitors 22, move the ball to the left to find Gair waiting to take the ball forward. With upto 5 m of pitch to play with the winger evaded the initial tackles but, only 3 m short of the line had to drive over through the Ripon defending 13 and 7 to claim the touch line.

After the referee caught up with play he awarded the try in the corner and the home team led 5 - 0. With a very difficult conversion Beasley was unable to add the extra points.

Following a half-time visit to the changing rooms to attempt to dry themselves and warm up a little the teams started the second half with Ripon the more dominant.

Half time changes for Harrogate saw an adaopted back line with Ollie Collingwood moving into the centre after Ollie Ward retired injured. With Lozza Hargreaves replacing Rowbotham in the pack Harrogate were under pressure from Ripon who failed to convert their assendency into points. Although the boys in blue moved the ball down the pitch well it took a barnstorming run from their former North Yorkshrie player, guesting back with his old club, to launch an attack that almost brough the scores level. The Referee, however, adjudged the visitors to have knocked on over the line, in the act of scoring, and from the resultant scrum Harrogate cleared their lines, cleared the pressure and turned the tables on Ripon.

With the weather causing problems for both teams as the cold began to bite Harrogate made further changes with Tom Brennan replacing Elliot Bloodworth in the backs while Josh Wilson and Sam Mitchell came on for Talic and Irvine.

With fresh legs the new players features well in driving the home team down the park. As Harrogate increasingley looked like going over for another score the home team looked to add to the pressure by bringing on further fresh legs through replacements Josh Smith and Harry Holroyd. It was then that the weather played its part and, as further Ripon players left the field through either injury or sever cold, the Ripon coaches called for the game to be abandonded.

The Referee, willing to play on, accepted the request from the visitors and blew for full-time with Harrogate camped deep in the visitors 22 and set for another push for another score.

A disappointing end but with the cold really effecting the health of the players the decision to finish the game with 10 minutes to go was a fair one to take.