Yarnbury 1st VX v Barnsley 1st XV

match report John Rawson

Yarnbury entertained their South Yorks rivals at Horsforth with Adam Batson and James Flagate returning to the engine room of the pack in an effort to secure enough ball for their attacks and
get their season back on track after two setbacks against opponents with big packs.Yarnbury controlled the game in the first quarter with all the possession stand off Danny Pound kicking for field position and scrums and line outs working well.After a break from centre and captain Jason Avison was halted the home side were pressurising the Barnsley defence and the play opened up on the right and second row Batson crashed over for the first score.Danny Pound converting well from wide left.After further attacks Yarnbury settled for a penalty in the centre of the field and Pound converted to open up a 10 point lead before Barnsley troubled the home defence.

With their first attack the away side used the ball well down the right to score in the corner winger by winger E.Copley but the damage was done by a strong mazy run by full back Simeone Bituwaqa with his pace and elusive running signalling the away side were hear to compete.Yarnbury Captain Avison was binned for 10 minutes for a tackle deemed high and Barnsley Stand Off converted the penalty before on 31 minutes Barnsley talisman and No8 Dave Reed scored an unconverted try from a 5 metre scrum on the right after the Yarnbury pack twice held firm but the No8 breaking close in got over the line.

Yarnbury rallied just before half time with the pack doing well as a unit and punching holes in the Barnsley defence down the centre of the field.From a penalty and a five metre scrum No8 Martin Rainey picked up and went over in the left corner with a powerful charge after a solid scrum and Danny Pound whose kicking was assured all the first half converted magnificently from wide out. to give Yarnbury a slender lead 17-15 at the break.However some rearrangement was needed with influential centre James White off injured and Nathan Benton moving to centre and Alex Crowther on at scrum half.

Barnsley took the lead seven minutes in from a Foye penaltyand both sides were pressing for the win as the game flowed with both sides having opportunities but on 65 minutes Yarnbury broke out down the left through Captain Jason Avison and fooled the wing and full back rounding both to score on the left side and Pound converting to give the home side a six point lead and looking good to hold out for a win.Not to be as the game became fractious and winger Jack Brown was sin binned.However Yarnbury a man down looked to be holding out against sustained pressure but two minutes from time prop Tom Bagnall crashed over from close range to make it 24-23 and the conversion did not miss from Foye to claim the points in a close win leaving the home side with one point for all their endeavours.