Firsts maintain winning start

Goole continued their winning start to the season with a fifth consecutive win against winless Ripon on Saturday despite turning out what was probably their poorest display of the season so far. The final score does not do justice to a game, very young, Ripon side who were very much in the hunt for a significant part of the game but four second half tries finally saw them off.

The game started with Goole in possession but Ripon turned the ball over at the breakdown and took the lead with a try by their winger who won the race to touch down a precise kick to the corner. Goole came back immediately after going through a number of phases for Luke Beecher to score out wide to level the scores at 5 – 5. The game at this stage was very even with the lively Ripon pack winning the breakdown battle and turning the ball over a number of times. Couple this with a number of Goole handling errors and a misfiring line-out and Ripon were very much in the game as they played with the wind at their backs. However they struggled to make any real headway and conceded a try under the posts from Danny Holt converted by Moore to bring the half time score to 12 – 5.

It was hoped that the half time break and with the wind at their backs Goole would show some of the sparkle they have shown in previous games this season, but that did not happen as the Ripon fullback gathered a loose kick and ran down the touch line from his own half to score in the corner to bring the score to 12 – 10. Goole continued to struggle and did not have any real fluency in their play and the game went through a drab stage until an inch perfect kick by Moore was caught by Beecher to score his second try that was converted by Moore to stretch Goole’s lead to 19 – 10. At last Goole started to pick up the tempo and scored probably the best try of the game after a super long pass by Lill found Binns who offloaded to Holt to score his second try. 26 – 10. A fifth try by Chantry and a penalty by Moore secured the game and stretched the lead to 36 – 10.

To Ripon’s credit they did not give up and following a period of pressure on the Goole line they were rewarded with their third try from close range that was well converted to bring the score to 36 – 17. The Ripon revival did not continue and the game faded with many spectators retiring to the bar rather that watch the final stages of the match. Goole managed one more late try through Matty Lill, converted by Moore to bring the easily forgettable game to a close with the final score of 43 – 17.

It has to be said that this was not the greatest performance from Goole but they still managed to score six tries and win without playing anywhere near their best. The Goole supporters were left a little frustrated but this is a good example of the heights that this group of players has reached when there is disappointment in a comprehensive win. They will not have it this easy in future games and they will have to play much better that this against better opposition.

Saturday sees a break from League action as the first team travel to Wetherby in the first round of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy. 3p.m. kick off