Four for Ruddock but Ashbourne go down
OLLIE Ruddock scored four tries but it was another heavy defeat at the weekend for Ashbourne in Midlands Two East (North), this time away to Market Rasen & Louth.
With Dominic Shrimpling also crossing the try line, there was only a second try bonus of the season and the 33 points they racked up was their highest tally of this difficult season.
Unfortunately, Ashbourne could not stem the flow at the other end as Market Rasen won 63-33, also therefore the largest number of points John Ford’s men have conceded this season.
Once again, in what is clearly a transition season for the club, they were not too downhearted, having gone into the game knowing they were up against it.
The trip to Lincolnshire is always difficult and they are used to travelling with a depleted team for the fixture – just as Market Rasen are usually short when they come to Ashbourne.
On Friday and even as late as Saturday morning, skipper Ford was still appealing for players to help out and they eventually travelled with 17 but with some significant names missing, both given the journey and with some post-shrovetide injuries.
Ford was proud of the effort put in by those he had at his disposal.
“There were two proper Ashbourne tries, throwing the ball around and enjoying ourselves,” he said.
“It was a tough game but I can’t thank the 17 that stood up enough, they did themselves and the club proud.”
While Market Rasen are now seven points ahead of Ashbourne, the bottom two, Ashby and Coalville, slipped a little further behind.
Ashby lost 17-12 to Loughborough and Coalville conceded a walkover to leaders Long Eaton.