U16s through to 2nd Round of Yorkshire Bowl

The match was preceded by a 2 minute silence for Armistice Day. Some lovely autumnal weather was interrupted by the occasional rain shower in the first half making conditions slippery.

Pocklington (7) 14
Yarnbury (20) 54
Tries: Nathan Snee (5), Jamie Mcdonnell (3), Joe Pilling, Jacob Rawson
Cons: Oscar Andrews, Edward Green

The adventures of last year’s Yorkshire Cup win were brought crashing to the ground after the loss to Sheffield in this year’s competition but Yarnbury got back to winning ways in this 1st round match of the Yorkshire Bowl. An entertaining match saw Yarnbury score 10 tries.

Yarnbury dominated the first 15 minutes both in terms of territory and possession and really should have put some points on the board. Good breaks by Dan Mitchell, Saman Azari, Maxwell Lee, and Oscar Andrews ensured Yarnbury were playing on the front foot but a lack of clinical finishing and infringements by Pocklington ensured no score. After being warned for continual foul play, the referee had little choice but to show a yellow card for a further infringement by the Pocklington defence in their 22. Yarnbury kicked for the 5m lineout. The throw was overthrown but Nathan Snee was able to gather and was driven over the line to score. The difficult conversion by Maxwell Lee fell just short but Yarnbury were leading by 5.

Despite all the Yarnbury dominance, Pocklington were next to score. From a scrum on the Yarnbury 10m line that was moving backwards, Pocklington were able to dig the ball out and move it quickly wide to their winger who appeared to have a clear run to the line but a fantastic cover tackle by Joe Birchall extinguished the chance. Yarnbury then gave away a series of penalties near their try line and Pocklington opted for a cross field kick but they knocked on. However Yarnbury were penalised at their 5m scrum and a quick tap resulted in a try which was converted. After 25 minutes Pocklington take the lead; 7-5.

There was a fear that the game would follow a similar pattern to the recent Morley match but the opposite happened and Yarnbury entered a purple patch that resulted in 3 tries in quick succession. In the 28th minute Pocklington were penalised on their 22 yard line and an injured player had to be substituted. Play resumed with a simple tap and pass by Oscar Andrews to Nathan Snee to run through the defence and score his 2nd try. The conversion was missed. A scrum was elected following a penalty from the re-start and another Nathan Snee break provided quick ball for Jamie Mcdonnell to score in the corner. The difficult conversion is missed by Oscar Andrews. From the next re-start Yarnbury kick long into the Pocklington 22 and a good chase by Jamie Mcdonnell puts pressure on the fullback who knocks on in contact. The Yarnbury scrum provides the attacking platform that sees winger Jacob Rawson tackled just short of the line in the corner and, although Joe Pilling manages to recover the ball, he is dragged into touch. The red mist then descends for Pocklington when they try to take a quick throw in but Ruauri Daly tackles the catcher who is penalised for not releasing the ball. Yarnbury take the quick penalty and with a huge overlap out wide, Jamie Mcdonnell is released to score in the corner for his 2nd try. In the final minutes of the half Edward Green is yellow carded for not releasing / lying on the player after he makes a good tackle. Yarnbury then give away a series of penalties allowing Pocklington to progress up field for a 5m lineout but the half ends when they are penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. Half time; Pocklington 7-20 Yarnbury.

The start of the 2nd half sees Pocklington knock the ball into touch from the Yarnbury kick off for a lineout on their 22 yard line. The Yarnbury throw in is not straight and Pocklington opt for a re-take. Their throw in is stolen by Ruauri Daly allowing Carter Proctor to drive to within 5m of the try line, Nathan Snee can pick and drive for his hat trick; Pocklington 7-25 Yarnbury. Pocklington show some resolve and take play back to Yarnbury. In the 8th minute Pocklington kick into the Yarnbury 22 from which fullback Keenan Dyer Dixon gathers and runs the ball back into contact. However Pocklington win turnover ball at the ruck and, having identified no fullback cover, kick into the space and a kind bounce allows them to score under the posts; Pocklington 14-25 Yarnbury.

Good pressure from the re-start sees Yarnbury encamped in the Pocklington 22, primarily thanks to a crunching tackle by Joe Birchall. Pocklington decide to try and run the ball out but they are driven back over their try line for a Yarnbury 5m scrum. Yarnbury are penalised for pre-engagement and the put in is awarded to Pocklington. They again try to run the ball out but the ball is turned over and Joe Birchall drives it back in initially before, who else, Nathan Snee drives over for his 4th try in the 54th minute. His 5th try follows 7 minutes later when the No. 8 carries the ball from the base of the scrum, running through the defensive line from 15m out to score next to the posts. The first Yarnbury conversion of the day is made by Oscar Andrews.

Soon after, there is a potential tip tackle on Edward Green that goes unpunished. As tempers flare at the fiercely fought ensuing ruck, words are exchanged, which results in Joe Birchall and an opposition player both being yellow carded, for the second week running, and Yarnbury awarded the penalty for Pocklington killing the ball at the ruck. Pocklington recover the ball and try to put in an attacking kick into space but Jamie Mcdonnell is able to turn, catch the ball, and elude the chasing kicker before scoring a solo try in the opposite corner. The difficult conversion is missed; Pocklington 14-42 Yarnbury.

The next passage of play was the highlight of the game. From the kick-off the ball is taken into contact at Yarnbury’s 10m line. Carter Procter pick and drives before the ball is taken by Sam Brown sniping down the blindside and offloading to Jamie Mcdonnell who is supported by Joe Pilling to take the final pass and run in to score in the corner. In the celebrations the conversion kick is forgotten and an apologising Edward Green has to run back and, without a kicking tee, drop kicks the difficult conversion. The whoops of delight from the Yarnbury supporters are not appreciated by some of the Pocklington players. In the final play of the game Pocklington go for a speculative cross field kick but it is caught by Jacob Rawson who runs it back in from the halfway line to score in the corner. Edward Green attempts another drop kick conversion but it falls short and the referee blows the final whistle. Full time; Pocklington 14-54 Yarnbury.

Yarnbury: Keenan Dixon-Dyer, Jamie Mcdonnell, Matt Schofield, Edward Green (capt), Jacob Rawson, Maxwell Lee, Oscar Andrews, Dan Mitchell, Sam Brown, Luke Woodend, Ruairi Daly, Saman Azari, Joe Birchall, Joe Pilling, Nathan Snee

Replacements: Carter Proctor

Man of the Match: Nathan Snee – looked almost unstoppable when carrying the ball in loose play. Scoring 5 tries made the man of the match decision fairly easy.