Yarnbury v Northallerton

match report by John Rawson

Yarnbury 15 –22 Northallerton – Yorkshire 2 League

Yarnbury were back to their old shape more or less for this tough fixture against a big Northallerton side for this well matched fixture.Yarnbury are beginning to look hard to beat on the AGP surface and for this clash welcomed back four backs in Will Marshall,Josh Bateson,James Enderby and captain James White along with prop Lewis Atha and with Ian Maycock ,Richard Lister and Cameron Newby on the bench it had a solid feel about the team.Certainly from the kick off Yarnbury pressed the Northallerton line but to no avail as the big Northallerton pack held firm.

Yarnbury lost field position on three quick occasions from basic penalties giving the opponents a chance to catch and drive from the lineouts which Yarnbury defence did very well to pull up short on a number of occasions stopping the momentum before a Yarnbury attack gave stand off Danny Pound a chance in front of the posts to take advantage of a penalty kick to take the lead.The diminutive stand off then made a superb ankle tackle on the impressive Northallerton back row forward Rob Green to stop a certain try close in as Yarnbury again repelled their opponents.Pressure told eventually when another forward drive saw Green get the touch down following a five metre scrum which Australian stand off Ashley Rio could not convert. The try was hard fought against a determined defence no more committed than Tom Goldthorpe chasing from the line out on the left to stop the winger on the right leading by example.

Yarnburyy had a good interchange between James White and Josh Bateson down the right side but was cut out eventually by the Northallerton defence.The forwards carried well down the middle of the part yards made by James barrett,James Falgate and Tom Gilcrist and Yarnbury were making progress on the fringes,Northallerton countered from their own half on two occasions as both sides looked to wrestle the initiative but half time came with no further scores in a competitive game and a good advert for Yorkshire rugby at its most committed.

The second half saw the away side take control through their forwards and the astute kicking of stand off Rio constantly pushing Yarn bury back on the defensive although the home defence refused to give Rio stroking over a penalty before on fifty two minutes the stalemate was broken when James Hopkins,the Northallerton Coach and back row charged over from close in and with Rio converting extended the away lead to 3 – 15.This was the trigger for Yarnbury to take control in the final quarter and test the away resources and commitment.First second row James Falgate who was a powerhouse all day to the opponents constantly making good ground took control of the ball from a tap penalty and drove over the line through the centre of the Northallerton pack and with Pound converting reduced the arrears.Then with Yarnbury applying the pressure the quick ball from impressive scrum half Les Crowther and quick hands from White and Endersby gave winger Bateson the chance to weave through the defence in a planned move and make for the line on the opposite wing to touch down to tie the scores at 15- 15.

No sooner had the game become parity that Northallerton countered through James Hopkin releasing the Northallerton right wing to diagonally find space for a good try and Rio converted to put Northallerton in front.On another day Yarnbury would have won the game but such is their luck at the moment close decisions went against them .Experienced second row got pushed over the line for a score .Disallowed for a double movement seemed harsh.This also after winger Bateson was denied a corner try after the referee overturned the Touch Judge decision and denied the touch down.

A superb game of rugby with Yarnbury only taking a point from the game but promise of further good rugby to come fir the rest of the season.