Yarnbury 27-30 Wath - Yorks 2 League

Yarnbury 27-30 Wath - Yorks 2 League 18th jan 2020.

Yarnbury have been reduced to a shortage of muscle in the pack for the last few weeks and have the lead in the bonus points in this league for tries scored but have been loosing out at set pieces and scrummaging recently leading to close losses.

For this fixture against a massive pack Yarnbury were determined to get their backs in to the game early and on eight minutes fast passing got Josh Bell chance to work the space on the touchline and full back Jack Brown made the overlap and his pace did the rest opening the scoring down the left and outstripping the defence.

Wath were soon back in the contest and starved the home side of the ball through their big pack and were soon on the score sheet with a catch and drive.Second row Luke stead getting the touchdown after sweeping away the home defence.The conversion was missed in the wind as did Jarrod Huss at the other end.

The stand off was needing time to settle back in the senior side and the wind did not help Yarnbury but some long passes went down when shorter was the name of the game.Wath took charge for the remainder of the half and scored another pushover try from No8 Joe Earp who was impressive throughout leading by example.Wath prop Joe Lazenby then scored from close in after determined defence across the park from the home side.The only thing of note for Yarnbury in this first half was half breaks from returning wing Josh Bateson who had the pace to trouble the opponents.The Yarnbury defence across the field was committed .Just the set pieces where the home side was vulnerable and losing second row Ian Maycock with a deadleg depleted their go forward penetration.However at 5-15 Yarnbury were still in the game.

The second half was a complete turn around with yarnbury against the elements after the home side went 8 points behind to a straight forward Jack Whitlam penalty.The away lead was reduced when scrum half Cam Newby scuttled over to reduce the arrears for an unconverted try despite a good attempt from Jack Brown sailed wide.However,the full back was on the end of a fine cross field move to score out left but could not convert to bring Yarnbury within one point of their opponents.The game see-sawed and Wath again went for the pushover and No8 Joe Earp touched down for another unconverted try before Yarnbury replied with a try from replacement wing forward Les Crowther to make it 22-23.The Yarnbury backs were running the ball at every opportunity to stretch the play and with Wath rattled the Yarnbury forwards made ground for the final run in made by the returned second row Ian Maycock using his strength and commitment to cross the lineand give Yarnbury the lead on 27-23.

Unfortunately the home side could not hold out although they scrummaged well on their own line before finally succumbing to the Wath pack pressure and Joe Earp touching down when Yarnbury were down a man .

Two points for Yarnbury for four tries and a close loss but still a lost game.Hopefully with several injured players back in a fortnight for the next league game away at league leaders Roundhegians could be an interesting affair!