Senior squads for Saturday can be viewed here.

Congratulations to Alex Black who has been selected to represent Scotland Under 18’s in the  6 Nations tournament in Ireland next month.  Alex, a talented scrum-half, is part of Ripon’s development squad.

The draw for the National Under 17 Competition has been made and Ripon Under 17’s have been handed a tough divisional quarter-final in the Plate away at West Hartlepool on Sunday. The full Northern Division draw is:

Sun 2nd March 2008

CUP
Altrincham Kersal v Otley
Middlesborough v Tarleton
Penrith v Percy Park
Guisborough v Stockport

PLATE
Wirral v Leigh
West Hartlepool v Ripon
Old Rishworthians v Liverpool Collegiate
Lymm v Carlisle

BOWL
Thornensians v Widnes
Billingham v Wetherby
Blaydon v Aldwinians
Sandbach v Sheffield

SHIELD

Heaton Moor v Keswick
Port Sunlight v Barnsley
Baildon v Darlington Mowden Park
Pontefract v Waterloo

Yorkshire Under 17’s earned a well deserved victory over Lancashire at Driffield RUFC. The final score of 5-0 tells very little of the game, with Ripon players Stuart Cross and Sam Watkinson making telling contributions. Unfortunately prop Rob Wilson suffered a suspected torn back muscle during the warm up and was unable to take any part in the game. Full match report on brendan’s blog

Just to clear up any confusion, here are the fixtures (as we know it) for next Sunday.

Under 7’s-12’s all training at the Army camp. This follows the cancelling of the Junior festival and it is up to each individual team as to whether they train or have the day off for Mothers day!!

Under 13 Guisborough at home

Under 14 training at Army camp

Under 15 Huddersfield at home (duty team for catering etc)

Under 16 Selby at home

Under 17 Away fixture opposition tbc.

Hope this clears up any confusion, if not give Andy or Ian a ring.

No phone call from Malton by 08:40 so can only presume the games are on.

Ripon Under 17’s successful league campaign has seen them rewarded with a place in the RFU National Under 17 competition. Ripon, currently 2nd in Yorkshire Division 2, have qualified as the 5th seeded Yorkshire side and been entered in the plate competition.

The 4 tiered competition (Cup, Plate, Shield, Bowl) pits the top 32 qualifiers from the North of England into a knockout competition, to determine who will go forward as Divisional champions to represent the North of England against Midlands in the semi-finals. The other semi-final will see divisional champions from the South-East and South-West battle it out.

Congratulations to the entire squad on achieving the honour of being the first side from Ripon to get into this competition. First game is next weekend with the draw being announced on Monday. Further details of who has qualified can be viewed here.

Ripon players Stuart Cross, Sam Watkinson and Rob Wilson have been named in the Yorkshire Under 17 squad for Sunday’s game against Lancashire. Lock Cross and fly-half Watkinson both make the starting XV while prop Wilson is on the replacement’s bench.  Lancashire skipper (and former Ripon player) Matt Spedding is ruled out due to a broken arm.

Ripon RUFC welcomes the county Under 17’s to Mallorie Park tonight as they prepare for their annual “Roses” clash with Lancashire.  The lads willl be put through a full training session before the 22 man squad for Sunday is announced.  Sunday’s game is at Driffield RUFC with a 2.00pm kick off.

Squad selections for Saturday can be viewed here.  Good luck to the Hornblowers who are away to Selby in the cup.