North Yorkshire Junior Festival at Thirsk

Ripon under 11’s took 22 players to the festival so ended up entering two teams playing 11 a side. Along with the two Ripon teams were Acklam and Thirsk.
The first match saw the two Ripon teams play each other. In yet another close match between these two teams there was nothing between the two with the Warriors leading at half time through a try by George Petts but the Gladiators equilising after the break through Will Grafton. With the draw a fair result the Gladiators went off to play Acklam whilst the Warriors took on Thirsk.

In a one sided match Ripon Warriors proved too strong for Thirsk and ran in 8 unanswered tries, all converted. The scorers were Will Shaw, Harry Lamb(2), Patrick Douglas, Josh Petts(2), Tom Stringer and Will Connor. Full marks to Thirsk who kept playing right through the match.

In a similar game the Ripon Gladiators took on Acklam and proved to be too strong for the opposition. George Evans opened the scoring crashing through the Acklam defence. Oliver Ward missed the conversion. The lead was soon doubled following a break from Harry yates who unloaded to George Evans for his second try. Oliver Ward landed the conversion to take the score to 12-0. Acklam kicked off straight to Oliver Ward who set off on a twisting run which saw him go all the way to the try line. Adding the conversion himself saw the score move to 19-0. Keeping the pressure on a good line out move from Spencer Scaife, George Evans and Euan Findlay allowed Euan to score another try. The conversion from Oliver Ward hit the bar so the score moved onto 24-0. Next the backs took control and a flowing move along the line saw Felix Oates in at the corner, with the conversion added the score moved onto 31-0. From the kick off this time it was George Evans who returned the ball all the way to the try line to make the score 38-0 at half time once Sam Blott had added the conversion.
The second half was a much slower half for the scorer with Ripon adding another two tries. The first for Felix Oates following another flowing move from the backs and the final one from Sam Blott playing out on the wing. Felix Oates added the final conversion whilst the biggest cheer of the day went to George Evans who proved beyond a doubt that props can’t kick when he badly missed his attempt at a conversion.

Overall a good morning for both teams but stronger opposition awaits when we face Sheffield in the Yorkshire Cup on the 9th December.