Ripley 12 - AEI 0

 In a keenly anticipated clash AEI meet their tour partners Ripley Rhino’s. Friendships and the close ties between the clubs were quickly forgotten as the two teams faced up across the swamp Ripley loosely refer to as their home pitch. The familiarity between the two teams was exploited ruthlessly by Ripley from the start as they pushed play into the more waterlogged areas looking for the inevitable knock-on in these conditions but despite the lack of grip from the resulting scrum the AEI pack were able to push their lighter counterparts backwards to win ball against the head. Never the less Rhino’s back were up so quickly to quell any attack before the AEI were able to move the ball out to the quicker wings waiting wide on dry land. Rhino’s were brilliant in the lineouts and fifteen minutes into the game the tactics of kicking for the mud and out jumping to win the ball against the throw resulted in a converted try under the posts for the only score of the first half.

The second half followed with more of the same tactics however the ref started determine to stop the Rhino’s backline infringing on the offside line by giving 5 penalties in a row but each time Rhino’s were able to win the throw in and then kick out of trouble. A midfield pass from the loose forward Jade Williams saw the Ripley centre intercept then score in the corner for the final try of the game.

Fly half Irwin Maximus said “Je ne peux pas attraper le ballon et je sent l'ail. They play a crafty game and outwitted us..”