Yarnbury 29 - 20 Leodiensians – Yorks 2 League

match report by John Rawson

Yarnbury 29 - 20 Leodiensians – Yorks 2 League

Yarnbury finished runners up to the promoted sides in Yorkshire 2 after this competitive league game.Outscoring the visitors 5 tries to two and claiming the bonus point they were made to work hard by Leos who had impressed in the last month finally getting their game together to escape relegation..Yarnbury were missing centre James White with the versatile Graham Maycock in at inside centre and Kieran Davies at fly half for unavailable Danny Pound.Pete Tennant was in at hooker whilst Chris Doyle was a rpelacement and Tom Warriner back in the second row whilst Leos were well organised by back row and pack leader Dave Barden and the backs were led well by Ed Farmer both groomed in Medics rugby.

This game was always going to see the ball moved around the park for an end of season game and the dry conditions but both sides went at it in frantic style with the defences holding firm in the first quarter.Yarnbury made the earlier running but Leos drove over and took the ball from an early attack.Yarnbury had a solid scrum platform and with the lively Kieran Davies moving the ball quickly a supurb break by centre Maycock sliced open the defence cutting through a small gap in the opposition to hand on to supporting full back George Oldridge to score the opening try.Davies failing with the conversion.Leos then caught Yarnbury offside up the field and Farmer converted the first of his penalties.

Both sides attacked with their own ball but without an end productuntil on 25 minutes the best nmove of the match so far saw quick passing and a break from Kieran Davies to quick for the defence saw him in space and with Ben Meahs on the right wing as a dummy runner switched to Captain Jason Avison on the inside for an impressive try near the posts and with Davies converting gave Yarnbury a 12-3 lead but in this competitive game forward pressure from the visitors saw them batter the home defence and finally hooker Mike McDaid grounded for a try given by ref Graham Rackstraw.with Farmer converting saw Leos deservadly still in contention at half time.

On 48 mins Yarnbury exerted their dominance with more forward pressure as Leos switched their front row and back row Jimmy Cryan shot through from close in for an unconverted try but gave back some of the initiative to Leos conceding a further penalty to Farmer.Nothing was going to stop the Yarnbury pack and again they pressurised the vistors try line and hooker Pete Tennant grabbing the fourth and bonus point try Davies converting.Leos were not finished and substitute forward James Janvier scored out wide left as the home side thought the game was won.Not quite but then set up a sweeping move out right to put speedy winger Josh Bateson away for the fifth try to seal a good win 29 –20 and just miss out on promotion but something to build on for next season.

To finish the season in style Yarnbury under 15’s grabbed a thrilling win to take The Yorkshire Cup Final on Sunday beating holders Brodleians 23-22 with the last kick of the game.Captain Darwin King stepping up to slot the winning penalty.