Old Grovians 32 - 31 Yarnbury

Yorkshire League 2
Old Grovians 32 - 31 Yarnbury

Picture: winger Josh bateson running in hos brace of tries

Yarnbury opened their season at local opponents Old Grovians at Apperley Bridge in summer conditions with hopes high for a new season with their young team and new coaching set up.Fielding an inexperienced senior side under Captain James White and a young pack but with some experience on the bench with James Barrett and Craig barker.The Back three looked to have pace out wide with Jack Brown back at Full Back with his pace on the counter.This was appaent from the off after Grovians Ben Brown had slotted a penalty to open the scoring Yarnbury proceeded to outflank the home side with their pace putting wingers firstly Josh Bell in on the right and then Josh Bateson in on the left with the homeside defence floundering.Stand Off Danny Pound converting the first try and then having the second conversion crossed off by referee Graham Rackstraw as the final decision.

Yarnbury could not kick on and impose their dominance and strong running centre Anthony Griffing shrugged off some poor tackling to score Brown converting and with Yarnbury giving away too mmany penalties scrum half Ben Brown booted two over for six points and Grovians were back in the game and with other centre Gaz Phillips helping himself to a try close in Grovians went ahead at the break 21-10.

The second half was a scrappy affair with Yarnbury replacing second row James Falgate with seasoned campaigner james Barrett to give some guidance to the young pack and Craig Barker on in the back row for Alex Crowther.However,mistakes ion handling in attack frustrated the Horsforth side and they went further behing to breakaway tries to influential stand off Alex Masterson and scrum half Ben Brown as the contest swung in favour of the homeside.

In a rip -roaring final quarter Yarnbury got their act together with two tries from full back Jack Brown and a second from Josh Bateson and conversions from Danny Pound to take Yarnbury to within one point of the opponents. They certainly had their chances to win the game in the second half as the home side were running out of steam but held on for a first win against their Horsforth neighbours.Yarnbury having to be content with two points for outscoring Grovians by five tries to four and a loosing bonus point but lost the contest by less than the width of an upright!