Yarnbury are getting stuck in the mud over the New Year not being able to play their expansive game and with most of the league fighting for survival every game is a tough contest. This encounter was no different to the Wath away game a fortnight ago but on a sticky and very small pitch were one mistake would cost valuable points.

Heath have recruited recently with prop Piper coming from Cleckheaton and No 8 Ian Downsborough back from the RAF the pack looked formidable and with their back line also not lacking size it appeared they were ideally built for a close encounter on their small pitch.

Yarnbury had the same pack out as usual a match for any team in this league. It is the backline that does not have a familiar look with several long term injuries effecting the overall performance. Luckily Stephen Riley was called in to hold the line together at Stand Off and Elis Gomersall was back on the left wing since early season. With the centres solid in James Myerscough and Ben Horner Yarnbury should have enough to go into the game favorites after fifty points going on the board by the home side in October. This league is not working out so simply particularly with the bottom eight fighting for survival places.

Yarnbury defended to open the half and repelled the Heath pack and looked comfortable. The first attack saw the Yarnbury threequarters release left wing Elis Gomersall and he needed some stopping in the corner with a supurbly timed charge from the Heath full back Eddie Cartwright at the corner flag could on a different day may have been seen as a foul. In their next attack into Yarnbury territory Heath secured a penalty for a ruck infringement and stand off Ezra Hincliffe converted in front of the posts. Yarnbury were on top and pressing for a try firstly a catch and drive got over the try line but the referee deemed the ball to be held up and with The Horsforth side pressing to score the final pass was rushed and intercepted by the Heath winger Matt Baxendale in his own 22 metre area and raced away to touch down handing off Yarnbury winger Alex Clark after a valiant chase to stop the score.

For all the first half efforts Yarnbury were repelled with a crowded home defense at the lineouts which worked well and the Heath half backs of Hinchcliffe and Dominic Walsh kicked well out of defence but from a scrum Yarnbury moved the ball quickly right for winger Clark to go in for another well worked try to get Yarnbury on the board before half time.

The second half was a tale of missed opportunities for Yarnbury with yet another catch and drive thwarted when it seemed a certain try with the ball well over the try line but nothing was given.A scrappy half with final passes going down. One super planned move saw a Stephen Riley break and popped pass to centre James Myerscough saw him clean through the defence but the pass was deemed forward. Heath looked worried in defence at times but held out for the close win. Another game the Horsforth side could have won and been clear in third position instead having to settle for a single bonus point and dropped a place behind York to fourth who they meet at Brownberrie Lane next Saturday.