Best Of Three.

It was back to league duties this week after a disappointing exit out of the cup competition the week before, what we did say to the lads after that was to take the way we played in the last thirty minutes of that game and bring it with us to the next, the lads didn't fail to do plus bringing a bit more to this weeks fixture.
We had an away trip to Ripon this week, which trying to get points on the road to any team can be difficult at the best of time but The way these two teams have played we knew we was in for a fight if we was to get anything from this game.
This will be the third time we will of play Ripon this season with it it standing a one a piece. with just five points separating them both teams, with the results just shows how close these two team are in the way they approach their games,
The conditions under foot was sticky and with there being signs of the pitch being well used it look like it was going to be a day for the forwards to keep the ball in hand playing it tight, but that's not ours or Ripon's style with both teams liking to run with the ball. it was clear from the start Ripon wanted to try disrupt the Bees running the ball with some hard tackles going in but with us having a good solid, pack we managed to go through the phases taking the Bees deep into Ripons half, this is where they was to stay for a good 10-15 minutes as Ripon just couldn't get out their half that such was the Bees defense and attacking play, Bees was rewarded with a rare penalty which they opted to go for points but Byron Finn just pulling it wide, but Bees won the ball back from the drop out and attacked again this time camping themselves on the Ripon try line but they held Bees up with some good defense, it was David Exley from the base of the ruck saw a gap picked and drove over to open the score, from the kick of it was Ripon to test the Bees defense keeping them pinned back but with the Bees confident of their defense force errors within the Ripon ranks as they just couldn't seem to take the last pass, but like i have said it show just how close these two teams are cancelling out each others attack, but for a decision by the ref that should of gone in the Bees favor gave Ripon the advantage with a well worked move got themselves on the score sheet, this unfortunately was going to be the order of the day with decisions which had to be questioned giving Ripon a bigger advantage throughout the game. it can be hard being a ref with both sets of supporter watching every move they make and some times they don't always see things that maybe others do or make a mistake after all they are only human, but lets just say today was a very off day for the man in the middle with some decisions having an impact on the game, but all you can do is keep to your game plan and play to the whistle. This is what the Bees did and in past games would of seen frustration within the team, but they seem to raise their game and being even more determined not to let Ripon score this is what the did with he game coming into the last quarter of the game with Ripon 2 points the better, poping up was Bees very own bulldozer Josh Lawn to drive him self over for the try, Ripon came back at the Bees but again Bees forcing the error for Connor Capper to use his football skills kicking the ball and chasing one more kick and he would of been over if it wasn't for a Ripon player pulling him back, but then was called Knock on way back up the field and the decision being given to Ripon, to everyone's amazement, but the lads just scrummed down and just got on with the game yet again another error by Ripon and turnover ball back to Bees allowed the forwards to go through the motions and work their way up the field, with phases after phases moving closer to the try-line, David Exley breaking through the tackles to race over for his second and winning try.
Final Score 17-7 to Bradford & Bingley
We had a worrying sight with Connor Fry after a scrum come to the touch line complaining of pain in his neck this lead to a long wait for an ambulance, and a trip to A&E he contacted the coaches later to say he was ok and that he had just damaged the muscles in his neck so going to be missing for a few week, from the team coaches speedy recovery Connor.
Today's Man of the Match went to David Exley with is hard work in defense and attack his work rate played a huge part of the team going forward but today was able to frustrate Ripon with his defense Well Done David.
But that said all the lads put in a shift today with what could be described as their best performance of the season so far, the spirit and the way they dealt with the decisions today and just getting on and even stepping up a gear showed great maturity, so more of the same for the rest of the season starting with another big game next week with a top of the table clash against Harrogate.
thank you again for the support of the team and the ferrying of the lads to the away games, a big thank you to Jane Nixon who has been looking after the lads this season and patching them up at the side of the pitch, but also they way she looked after Connor Fry today laying the best part of the game in the mud waiting for the ambulance, all your help in very much appreciated by the team and coaches.
make sure we get the numbers down to training this week in readiness for next weeks game.