NORTH Ribblesdale entertained the side that ran them close for the title last season in front of another bumper crowd at Grove Park. So, a close encounter was envisaged.

Ribb started brightly but didn’t score their now customary early try.

Wath stormed back and a mixture of indiscipline and unforced errors put Ribb on the defensive. From a lineout a well worked try for hooker John Dobson put the visitors over for an unconverted try.

A repeat performance this time converted by Whitlam gave the visitors a 12-point lead. Following a surge downfield a gap opened up in the Wath 22 and ever aware scrum half Hennie Van Rensberg surged through to scamper over with Tom Davidson reducing the arrears with the conversion.

Wath came back and scored another unconverted try through winger Anderson to give the visitors a 17-7 interval lead.

The home balcony was quiet but need not have worried, after some stern words from coach Davidson at half time, Ribb looked a different side and in the space of ten minutes had the game put to bed.

Three fantastically worked converted tries the First by Andy Thwaite, then Callum Mathew for his first in front of the balcony which was met with raucous cheering and then the best from full back Ben Coultherd transformed the score to 28-17 in Ribbs’ favour.

Ribb were now in full flow and despite some resolute defence by Wath they were simply too lively for their opponents and further converted tries from Coultherd and prolific winger Ralph Wellock put the icing on the cake.

Wath got a consolation score at the final whistle to give a score of 42-22 in the home side’s favour. The second half was a scintillating performance after a first half to be forgotten, but it showed what this side is capable of when discipline is greatly improved.

John Padley, Harry Mathew and Oliver Drew were the pick of the forwards and the usual culprits Coultherd, Wellock, and Van Rensberg ably assisting the immaculate game management of Tom Davidson in the backs.

This victory leaves Ribb three clear at the top in their quest for back-to-back promotions, and a close game is expected this week away at previously second placed Harrogate Pythons.