Yarnbury v Barnsley

match report John Rawson

Yarnbury at full strength over recent weeks have looked menacing to all comers so much so that opponents Barnsley gave The Horsforth side the walkover in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy Cup Competition last week The League fixture was to them a more serious affair and unfortunately for Yarnbury was a desperate situation finding a squad to travel due to unavailability's.Ten changes to both backs and forwards meant Yarnbury were fighting a rear-guard action with this fixture against traditionally strong opponents at home.Nigel Benton and Lee Mortimer formed the centre partnership in the absence of the Captain James White (injured) and his partner in the middle James Endersby.Cameron Newby in at Scrum half and Luke Crowley and Graham Maycock in on the wings.The pack showed five changes with hooker Tom Gilcrist having to prop and Paul Kernick and Tom Warriner the second row pairing.Tom Goldthorpe and George Bowen back in the back row alongside the experienced No8 James Barrett Captaining the side.

The first fifteen minutes saw Yarnbury with the majority of the possession and taking the game to the home side with a long period of keep ball and driving through the middle at the home pack.Prop John Dodgson and second row Paul Kernick getting through good work as the ball was constantly recycled both ways with wings Graham Maycock and Luke Cowley well shadowed by the home defence and only a penalty to show for a lot of physical effort.Both sides were well matched but unfortunately one player made the difference in the close quarters and that was prop Tom Bagnall for barnsley who was a thorn in the side of the Horsforth team all afternoon.Firstly carrying over three tacklers for the opponents first try and then breaking through the maul for a second close in try the latter converted by full back Josh Smith to open up a home lead. Yarnbury had their chances up the slop particularly the right side combination of full back Josh Bell and winger Cowley but after making good ground on two occasions was hauled down in touch on 22 metre line. The best chance opened up but Bell could not manage to find the winger with the final pass.

To rub salt into the hard working Yarnbury side prop Bagnall again went over on the left for a converted try to give the home side a 19-3 lead at the break.

Turning round Yarnbury attempted to play the wide areas but could not break the defence and with so many changes in the pack failed on a number of occasions to take clean line out ball particularly in good attacking positions on the 22 metre home line which meant the Barnsley side gained confidence from their large amount of possession.Centre Greg Colbridge getting through a gap in the defence on the left to put the home side further ahead Smith converting.Yarnbury replied through their pack working hard down the right and a good break by wing forward George Bowen was stopped short before a concerted pressure from the pack with repeated drives resulted with Bowen claiming the touch down and stand off Danny Pound converting. to reduce the scores.The pack were getting through some really physical work against a bigger outfit but stuck to the task with the tackle count enormous for the back row of Barrett,Bowen and Tom Goldthorpe following the example of second rows of Tom Warriner and Paul Kernick.Whilst substitutes Tom Whitfield and Chris Doyle provide respite for the front row.Eventually the extra muscle told and that man Bagnall crashed over for his fourth try near the end.Yarnbury will beat better sides this season but will need the return of muscle for the end of the year fixtures.