NORTHALLERTON RUFC's first team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a 13-15 defeat to neighbours Ripon in the last home game of the season.

The two teams were evenly matched with both teams cancelling each other out for long periods of the game.

North took the lead after five minutes with a straight forward penalty from man of the match Ashley Rio for a 3-0 lead, and began to look the stronger in the scrums. North's lineouts however were still struggling slightly and became a little bit scrappy, despite the efforts of Lee Peake.

After 20 minutes a wayward pass by the Ripon centre was intercepted by Rio, who ran nearly half the length of the pitch to score. The following conversion from Rio however was just wide.

Much of the play for the remainder of the half was congested into the middle third of the pitch with neither team coming close to scoring. Half time 8-0.

Five minutes into the second half, Ripon had a chance to come back into the game with a penalty 20 yards out, but somehow the kick was wide.

Ten minutes later, good work by Ed Meek provided clean ball for Rio who passed the ball out to winger Matthew Marsay, who outpaced two covering defenders to score in the corner and give North a 13-0 lead.

Midway through the second half, Ripon had another penalty which this time they successfully kicked for the three points.

Two minutes later, a mistake in North's midfield gifted the visitors an unconverted try to leave Ripon only five points behind. Ripon now seemed to be in the ascendancy as North began to panic and make silly errors. North to their credit did defend well but could only keep Ripon out for so long before the visitors finally went over ten minutes from time, and with the conversion took a two point lead. Influential Marsay was also injured in a last ditch tackle attempt and had to be carried off the pitch and replaced by Jed Bainbridge.

The last few minutes of the game were uninspiring from North as the visitors showed how to hold a lead and play the game out. Final score 13-15.

Next week North firsts are away to Wheatley Hills in their penultimate game of the season.