1st XV Beat North Ribblesdale 44-0

Yet another potential banana skin for Goole at home to North Ribbledale but one that they overcame in some style with a devastating 2nd half performance. With a number of changes to the team they got off to the start they hoped for with a penalty in the first minute that was followed by a sweetly struck drop goal by Moore for a 6 – 0 lead after eleven minutes. Whilst Goole dominated the early possession and territory, they were under pressure in the scums and this brought North Ribb into the game as they went through a number of phases and moved the ball at every opportunity. Goole responded with the typical crunching tackles we have come to expect from this team, as Ribb resorted to a kick for position that was gathered by Danny Holt who launched the first of many counter attacks in the match. A Sam Smith offload to Matty Lill, who was making a return from injury, saw him outpace the cover defence to score out wide to bring the score to 11 – 0. North Ribb were still a major threat as the game progressed especially with Goole not yet firing on all cyclinders, but they had addressed the scrum issues and the half ended with no further scoring.

The 2nd half saw a new 2nd row partnership of Sugden and Jack Smith who was making a very welcomed return to the 1st team as Goole started the half in a determined style moving the ball wide and stretching the N Ribb defence. Early strong runs from Jack Smith showed what Goole had been missing and it was from one run, carried on by Walker that resulted in a penalty near the try line. A quick tap and offload from Taylor to Sam Smith to go over for an early try converted by Moore.

N Ribb came back and pressurised the Goole line for a brief spell but it was the Goole attack that went on to dominate the game as they ran in another four tries, thanks to the superb handling of the youthful new centre partnership of Sam Smith and Matty Lill. Man of the Match, Sam Smith scored his second try running in from half way brushing off would-be tacklers to score a superb solo converted try.

Will Devenish was now on at scrum half and he added to Ribbs defensive problems with sniping runs, sucking in defenders as the ball went wide again this time to find the impressive Danny Holt joining the line at pace to slice through to score by the posts and bring the score to 30 – 0 and a try bonus point.

North Ribb never gave up but were now under pressure in all aspects of the game as the Goole forwards got stronger as the game progressed. A line out on half way was secured and Devenish saw a gap and took it before offloading to the supporting Sam Smith who passed to Beecher to go over for the try. 37 – 0.

The Goole attack was now relentless and it was no surprise that the scored their 6th try when the ever-alert Corry picked up at a breakdown to charge through a gap and pass to the supporting Connor Walker to complete the scoring 44 – 0.

It is ironic that a number of the Goole team that won the 1999 Pocklington 7’s were at the game as this current team has the potential to match or even exceed the achievements of that golden era when Goole finished in their highest ever league position. A senior club member commented that the 2nd half performance was one of the best overall team performances that he had seen for a generation and he would not get anyone disagreeing with that. The youthful centre partnership of Smith and Lill, were excellent both in attack and defence but it was the overall second half team performance that won the day.