Yarnbury v Leos

Match report John Rawson

Yarnbury 33-24 Leodiensian – Yorks 2 League

Yarnbury opened their new RFU funded AGP facility on Saturday afternoon by welcoming Leodiensian from Alwoodley long standing rivals in Yorkshire League 2 and currently in good form .The game promised to be exiting well matched contest on the new artificial turf sandwiched in between an invitation veterans game and young ladies rugby in the evening under the new floodlights.The facility means the league will get different conditions to play rugby rather than standard turf pitches this season.Yarnbury fielded the same team that overpowered Roundhegians the week before apart from Tom O’Brien on the right wing in place of last weeks try scorer Josh Bateson who was unavailable but with the same squad provided a confidence boost from the previous week against strong opposition.

Yarnbury started in sensational style but so did Leos defence.Centre James Endersby breaking down the middle but his final pass went astray to winger Josh Bell but then the defence held firm across the park as Leos countered.After 10 minutes Yarnbury were stretching the play and got space to put winger Bell in for the first points out wide but full back Joe Pinnick could not convert.Then right wing Tom O’Brien was put away down the right only to be hauled down short by a good defensive tackle.The forwards then got on the charge to the line and after several phases by the pack closed the gap to the line scrum half took a pass from grounded No8 Jimmy Cryan to touch down and with Pinnick converting opened a twelve point gap.The interchanges across the park between the forwards and the backs looked all the more impressive as Yarnbury stretched the opponents defence.The momentum all the more impressive as their opponents defence was of the first order and Yarnbury had to create the spaces for their breaks.It got even better after the half hour as forwards and backs combined to open up the Leos defence for Joe Pinnick to ghost through to score who then converted his own try.

The home side then went one better to gain a bonus point for four tries on the stroke of the interval with a classic team try forwards and backs involved before the space appeared for centre James Endersby to burst through the centre to score and with Pinnick converting gave Yarnbury a flying first half 26 – 5 lead

In the second half the Leos came back with renewed vigour when other sides may have collapsed against such a forceful showing.Their captain Dave Barden is renowned for his competitive play and got the best out of his pack and stand off Will Watkinson,last seen at Horsforth with Sheffield Medics side in league action prompting the backs over the gain line and forcing Yarnbury back in defence.A great midfield run by Tom O’Brien after gathering a kick out came to nothing as the ball was stifled by the defence before Josh bell was put away down the left in fine style for the fifth try and with Pinnick converting the home side were in an unassailable lead at 33-5.

Leos broke out of defence and No8 Steve Costello got over Mark McDaid converting and they followed up with another from winger Matt Ireton and then centre George Faulkner got the final try to give the away side the respect their performance deserved.Referee Dean Walker (Dinnington and South Yorks Society) also impressed as a large crowd for the opening of these impressive facilities saw an entertaining performance with the home side not being denied by impressive tactics displayed by the team and orchestrated by coaches Bob Hood and Gary Walker as Yarnbury climb the ladder of Yorkshire 2.Next week see’s the first of a double header against opponents Barnsley in the cup at home (KO 2.15pm) then league away the following week.