Yarnbury 1st XV v Bridlington 1st XV

Bridlington 22 – 0 Yarnbury – Yorkshire League 1

Match Report by John Rawson

Yarnbury had to reorganise for the long away trip to the East Coast with Captain Oliver Cashman going into the back row due to unavailability's allowing Jarrod Huss in at scrum half. Russ Gomersall coming in at second row.

In breezy cold conditions Yarnbury were into the wind and immediately were defending their line against a determined Bridlington pack. Standing off in the forwards and only committing two or three to the rucks seems to suit Yarnbury and they give less penalties away with this discipline. Bridlington were rebuffed time and time again and with Carl Patterson dictating at stand off relieved the pressure on several occasions with excellent kicking into the wind. The game was marred in the first ten minutes with a double sinn binning. Yarnbury back row Jimmy Cryan getting ten minutes in the bin for what looked like a harsh decision going over the top in a maul when the ball seemed to be out. From the same incident Bridlington lost their flanker Alan Sutton for casual use of the boot on the Yarnbury man.

The sides were both trying to get tries on the board and Yarnbury were dictating the first half through a fine forward effort and the boot of Paterson giving the Horsforth side breathing space. Twice Bridlington were penalised in the forwards for killing the ball and Paterson kicked for touch. Twice Ian Maycock jumping at his customary No 2 in the line collected the ball and the Yarnbury pack drove over the Bridlington try line but on both occasions the ball was deemed to be held up by referee Robson of East Yorks Society.

Yarnbury got winger Elis Gomersall away a couple of times but he was well shackled by the opposition defence and came to nothing whilst Hornets Centre Chris Moreton tackled and passed well on his debut before Yarnbury lost their influential second row Ian Maycock with a leg injury. Yarnbury were good value at the break with the game scoreless.

Having to re-organise was difficult with the loss of the big second row having only one forward on the bench in replacement prop John Dodgson. The big Brid Pack took advantage and from a loose ball at the back of their scrum the Bridlington scrum half Otis Floyd gathered the loose ball and went 40 metres to the posts to score. Stand Off Jack Arthur converting to put the seasiders ahead. A further obscure penalty increased the lead a few moments later from Arthur and all the good work was undone in the first few minutes of the second half. The game went away from Yarnbury with another try to the home side on the blindside from half way when winger Will Davies was put away by as slipped pass from a ruck which seemed unfair on the Yarnbury defenders when obstruction appeared likely. Unfortunately, referee Robson let play on for a second Bridlington try to the winger.

Bridlington completed the scoring as Yarnbury were chasing the game with a try from Centre Ryan Girking converted by Arthur. Disruption to the pack gave the game a lopsided result but again this season the away trips are not going well for the Horsforth side who remain in fourth place in the league with the league leaders coming to Brownberrie Lane next Saturday.