Ripon coach Hamill targets top four finish
DESPITE their recent heavy defeat to Skipton, Ripon coach Mick Hamill insists his side still have plenty to play for in the final part of the season.
Losing their North Yorkshire derby all but ended Ripon's slender promotion hopes but now Hamill is focussed on a top four finish and believes his side are good enough to compete at the top.
Tomorrow Ripon welcome basement boys West Park Leeds to Mallorie Park (2.15pm kick-off) in a game Hamill feels they really must win.
Leeds have only picked up four points all season and are staring Yorkshire Three right in the face unless they turn around their faltering campaign.
Fifth placed Ripon, meanwhile, are currently neatly placed for a late dash into the top three with Skipton and Old Brods firm favourites for promotion.
"It looks like Skipton will probably get promoted now and Old Brods are pretty much unbeatable at the top," said Hamill.
"Now we need to challenge with the other sides in the top four. It looks like we'll not get promoted now but we said at the start of the season we'd be happy with a top four finish.
"We've got to go above Pocklington to get there and then there's Yarnbury in third place but we feel we're good enough to finish up there.
"There are some positives for us in the next few games with Jason Bell coming back into contention.
"There's also Adam Whiter coming back into the side so they are the positives."
Ripon will be hunting revenge tomorrow against a West Park side rooted to the bottom of the division.
Hamill's men were surprisingly beaten 25-14 in Leeds back in November, a week after their superb 17-15 win over Wheatley Hills.
Ripon will be keen to set the record straight especially with home advantage under their belt.
"West Park is really a game we should be looking at winning," said Hamill.
"They beat us earlier in the season but with home advantage we should have more players available and with a full strength side we should go on to win.
"It really is a game we should be winning, especially if we want to finish in the top four but then again West Park will be wanting to win every game they play especially with them fighting for their lives at the bottom."
Despite their heavy defeat to Skipton a fortnight ago, Hamill was pleased with aspects of his side's performance, especially in light of the weakened side Ripon fielded due to injuries and Christmas commitments.
"It was a shame we couldn't get a full strength side but there were a few positives to take out of the game," said Hamill.
"One was the second half performance. We scored 13 points in the second half and the lads never stopped fighting so all credit to them for that.
“The other was the performance of Matt Nabarro who’s come back into contention after his travelling.
“He had a really good game and scored a try.”
RIPON 3rds enjoyed a comfortable win over local rivals Northallerton on Saturday, by 22 points to 15.
Ripon actually went two tries down in the early stages against a side fielding nine Fijians, but thanks to a domineering performance by Simon Williamson, managed to turn the game in their favour. Williamson scored two tries and added two conversions plus a penalty try to win the match.
Tomorrow’s teams
1st XV v West Park Leeds, home, 2.15pm kick-off, from: Humphries, Bell, Van Dyk, Nabarro, Matthews, Hooks, Drane, Dunn, Wolloms, Ross, Lamb, Sadler, McAra I, Quigg, Winspear, Whiter, Clough, Ellis.
2nd XV v West Park Leeds 2nds, away, leave 12noon, from: Porter, Audsley-Beck, Jones S, Kally, Brewster, Ripley, Buttrell, Whitaker P, Devine, Johnson S, Box, Atkinson, Williamson A, Goldsmith, Potter J, Watson, Marsh, LaForgia, Marzak L.
3rd XV v Harrogate Pirates, away, leave 12.30pm, from: Clegg, Blackburn, Aylward, Campbell, Whittaker D, Guy, Hudson, Kettlewell. Henstock, Matteson, Hodson, Bulmer, Champion, Park, Williamson S, Frank, Gis, Mori, Nicholson S, White, Lown, Gaunt.
andrew.groves@ypn.co.uk
LATEST TABLE
Yorkshire Two PPts
Old Brodleians 12 24
Skipton 12 20
Yarnbury 12 16
Pocklington 11 16
Ripon 12 12
Wheatley Hills 12 12
Leodiensians 12 10
North Ribblesdale 12 9
Goole 11 7
Dinnington 12 6
Knottingley 12 6
West Park Leeds 12 4
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Weather for Ripon
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 5 C
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