Grovians came out second best in a closely fought match with Ripon. Two controversial tries (one given the other not) by the visiting Scottish referee turned out to be decisive.
Grovians took an early lead through a 40 metre Ben Brown penalty but Ripon’s speedy back line soon very giving the Grovian defence problems out wide and their right winger went over after six minutes and a fine touch line conversion gave Ripon a 7-3 lead. Brown reduced the arrears with a 30 metre penalty after 14 minutes.
A fine break by Alex Masterson supported well by Jack Hartley resulted in a penalty to Grovians. Rather than kick at goal Brown kicked to the corner and from the resulting line out Sam Dodd caught and the maul drove Adam Crookes over for the unconverted try.
Ripon straight back when their full back broke through three tackles to score under the posts and this was followed up by a second try for Ripons right winger again converted from the touch line.
Just before the break Grovians coach made three changes with John Neal replacing the injured Jack Johnstone and Pad Burns coming onto the right wing and Pat Elcock into the second row. At half time Ripon led 21-11.
The game ebb and flowed for quarter of an hour with Grovians beginning to get on top in the set scrum. Brown pulled three points back from a penalty before Gaz Phillips went over for a try but controversially the referee deemed the ball to have been held up. The momentum was shifting to Grovians despite prop Will Robinson having to come off and after 69 minutes Max Kennedy ran two sides of a square to outpace the Ripon defence to score in the right hand corner. Brown conversion missed and with five minutes to play Grovians were just two points down at 19-21.
For the last five minute Grovians just could win possession and in the last minutes Ripon were awarded a bonus point try when the scorer clearly made a double movement to ground the ball.
Team : - Kennedy, Hope-Robertson, Hartley, Phillips, Butler, Masterson, Brown, Hardy, Secker, Johnstone, Dodd, Ryan, Crookes, Worrall, Robinson – replacements, Neal, Burns, Elcock