Yarnbury RFC 2nd XV vs Morley 2nd XV 27/09/14

The Cavalier’s travelled the short distance across to Leeds to take on Yarnbury, one of the early front runners in the division after winning two out of their first three games convincingly. The young Morley team that had lost first up to York were eager to get their first win of the season and welcomed back a few familiar faces.

Adam Jones returned to take up the dreaded mantle of Morley 2nd team fly half, whilst centre Robbie Mcfaul, second rower Christian Head and double testimonial prop forward Jake Brooke lined up to make their first appearances of the season. As a complete contrast to the first league game, conditions were dry and good for a fast flowing game of rugby.

The kick off was delayed briefly due to a wardrobe malfunction by the home side, resulting in the playing shirts been locked in an uncrackable safe and them taking to the field sporting some stunning inside out white training tops. When the game finally did get underway the game was going for all of 90 seconds before play was stopped to administer the proper playing shirts for the hosts.

The Cavaliers started well however and were the first to score. An early penalty set up promising field position. Morley ran through the phases before a good interchange of passes between Simon Mitchell and James Glover allowed Adam Jones the time and space to throw a lovely lofted pass to right winger Andy Funnell to go over for the first score. Alex Kean was unable to convert and the score stayed at 5 – 0.

The Cavs were straight back on the attack minutes later, good scrummaging on half way paved the way for a nice build-up of play; Jamie Denison making a powerful charge before unloading to Christian Head who in turn found Jake Brooke with the line open. Unfortunately the prop didn’t have the legs and his last pass was eventually dived on by a scrambling Yarnbury defence.

Yarnbury were struggling to maintain any kind of possession in the opening 10 – 15 minutes with strong defence early led by Glover gave the visitors the early upper hand. Morley actually blew another clear scoring chance. Another break down the right found Vee back on the inside but the pass was frustratingly called forward whilst a break from Adam Jones resulted in another last gasp intercept by the home side.

The score remained at 5 – 0 until the hosts finally got some sustained possession. Poor discipline from the Cavs allowed the home side their first decent field position and they duly capitalised, some fragile defence on the fringes allowed Yarnbury to offload to their 8 who crashed over to level the scores. The goal was missed and the scores were locked at 5 all after 20 minutes.

Both sides continued to trade possession with neither side able to establish any real dominance with relative parity in the scrum and breakdown. Another Cavalier penalty saw Yarnbury go close to taking the lead, their final pass being ruled forward. The visitors good start was starting to unravel however as the half went on, with a number of mistakes being made on shift plays and through the middle third. This possession gave Yarnbury a spring in their step and only a desperate tackle from Vee down the right touch line prevented the home side another certain score.

Yarnbury did eventually take the lead, the try almost a carbon copy of the first, a shift to the right off a set piece saw the 7 carry three over the line for a 10 – 5 lead. Once again the conversion drifted wide and the score remained the same with half time looming.

There was, sadly for the Cavaliers, time for one more score before the break and it was arguable the score of the match. Yarnbury shifted the ball right from deep in their own half and broke away before great support play shifted the ball all the way to the left for the 13 to squeeze in in the corner. Not a single goal was kicked in the first half resulting in a 15 – 5 lead to the home side and the Cavaliers having it all to do in the second half.

Morley started the half brightly but another final pass went wayward and was accepted gleefully by the home side. By now, Morley’s execution had cost them a number of scores and the home side made them pay. A stray offload on halfway was scooped up by Yarnbury who broke away down the left for a simple score to make it 20 – 5. This score also brought the first conversion of the day to extend the score line to 22 – 5.

It was turning into another frustrating afternoon for the Cavaliers who after a good start were starting to struggle. The momentum now firmly with the home side Morley continued to produce errors and scupper chances, exemplified by another great break from fullback Alex Kean was wasted as the Cavs were pinged for holding on.

Entering the final quarter and three scores down the Cavs had to be the next to score to give themselves any chance and thankfully they were; a great break from Adam Jones was finished by the supporting Funnell for his second of the afternoon. The goal went wide for a 22 – 10 score line but Morley now had some momentum. They went oh so close to scoring minutes later with another superb break from Kean ending with Ed Kelly being brought down 10 metres out but, as was the tail of the game so far, the chance went begging as the home sides impressive scramble defence forced a turnover.

Yarnbury seemed to steady themselves and mounted some more pressure on the Cavs line. A quite frankly unbelievable one on one tackle from stand in winger Ed Kelly prevented a wide roaming prop forward almost three times his weight from extending the home sides lead. The game breaking play did eventually come from the home side and it came from a Morley mistake. Another spread play broke down and with the visitors back line defence at 6s and 7s the extremely pacey Yarnbury hooker supported up the middle to put the game beyond reach at 29 – 10.

The Cavaliers continued to put up a fight in the closing stages but it was the home side who rounded off the scoring with two late tries through the middle to give a blow-out score line of 41 – 10.

Overall a frustrating afternoon for the Cavaliers side, who know that their lack of patience and discipline costs them at times, as well as some poor execution. The team agreed as a collective that some hard work needs to be done at training in the following weeks but some encouraging displays again from the young players and the chance to get some minutes into some of the more senior players gives the Cavaliers grounds to be positive moving forward early in the season.