Ripon 14 - 19 Sheffield Medicals

MEDICS ROB RIPON IN FINAL SECONDS
Saturday morning began early for the Medics ready for the long trip to Ripon. There were high expectations to put the loss to Leo’s behind them and get the first win of 2013. The team were given a moment of fame when captain Fawdry asked for all to sign a fresh pair of shorts for the newest of sponsors… his dad. Having set off the excitement in Ted’s car soon vanished once Fawdry realised his 2nd Row partner Henry ‘Rambo’ Walker had been left behind, back they went to pick him up, disaster averted!
On arrival, the boys were pleasantly surprised by the pitch that many on the Yorkshire forum have criticised, it was a little heavy underfoot but in good condition considering the weather over the Christmas break. The new shorts and socks were being unwrapped in the changing room ready for team photos under the posts; however, bending over brandishing the perfectly placed logo on the right bum cheek was not what most expected.
With the fun and games over the Medics swiftly moved into a warm-up of an intensity not seen in the team for months, it was perhaps this that caused Matty ‘I think I’m having a heart attack’ Clark’s withdrawal from the starting line up. Having completed the team talk in a pitch black changing room, without captain Fawdry or coach Green breaking their well-rehearsed lines, which was an achievement in itself, it was out onto the pitch.
The medics carried the focus of the warm up into the opening moments of the game, having soaked up early advances from the Ripon pack, a Sheffield line out 30m from the home try line yielded clean possession. Following a break in the centres quick hands allowed fly half Ted Farmer to put in Mike Watters in the corner for the opening score, conversion missed, 0-5.
From the restart Ripon began to control the game, with the home sides scrum dominating. Solid and committed defence from the Medics didn’t allow Ripon onto the scoreboard until the 25th minute. Ripon had won themselves a 5m scrum and through the effort and concentration needed from the Medics pack to prevent a push over try the Ripon 8 picked and went, capitalising on a moments head start on the Sheffield back row, and crashed over the line. Conversion successful, 7-5. The half continued with shots at goal from both sides, all of which were short or wide of the posts. Half time 7-5 to Ripon.
The Medics came back out for the second half with Coach Green’s words to be more aggressive around the park ringing in their ears. It was Ripon however who troubled the Sheffield defence first, a long period of pressure ended with the Ripon full back and captain cutting through the medics defence out wide. Conversion successful 14-5.
The away side began to build up some possession but mistakes around the field and a mis-firing lineout prevented any real opportunities. That was until a break on the left wing took the Medics into the Ripon 22 and after a number of phases Ted Farmer glided in from first receiver, conversion successful 14-12.
The Medics were now getting into the game and beginning to trouble the home side, with only 10 minutes left and two points down Fawdry made a Robshaw esque decision not to go for goal when a penalty on the Ripon 22 was awarded. A kick to the corner followed and the mistakes that had plagued the students all afternoon continued and the opportunity was missed. With only minutes left Ripon made some hard yards down the centre of the pitch and forced the Medics back into their own 22. The students managed to force a penalty, and the play from the following lineout looked as though it would be the Sheffield side’s last chance. Once again however, a mistake in the Medics backline gave away possession, many would be forgiven for thinking that that was that. Yet it was the students who would have the final say.
With time almost dead the Ripon centres made a break into the Sheffield 22, an ambitious offload allowed Watters to intercept just 10m from his own line. After a quick reorganisation the ball was floated wide into the hands of Rob Causer on the wing who, although it looked as if he was running in treacle, made a break up to half way. Support found him quickly and following a well cleared ruck the ball was passed though the hands to Watters on the opposite touchline who continued the momentum and set up a ruck 30m out. Again the support was swift and the ball was spun back out to the backs, dummy lines from forwards held the scrambled Ripon defence, and Matty ‘looks like I haven’t had a heart attack’ Clark found himself in a 2 on 1 with the fullback. Resisting his first instinct to chip and chase he kept a cool head and passed out to Rob Causer to finish the move that he had started and touch down for the winning try. 14-19.
It was hard to tell which team were more shocked by the late action, the Medics were understandable ecstatic but there was a definite feeling a guilt at robbing the game from a hard working Ripon side.
Credit goes to Ripon who stuck at their task all day but the Sheffield students know that this weeks game against an in form Roundheigians must see an improved performance.

By CJ

MOTM - Shit Chat Causer
TOTM - Matty Clark
SOTM - Chris Jones