U17 Colts: Yarnbury 43-10 North Ribblesdale

Yarnbury (31) 43
North Ribblesdale (0) 10
Tries: Maxwell Lee, Jacob Rawson (2), James Longhawn, Josh Dunn, Jamie McDonnell, Sam Brown
Cons: Maxwell Lee (3), Jacob Rawson

North Ribblesdale have the better of the early exchanges with Yarnbury missing a couple of tackles but the lineout is working well and Jack Brownridge is able to disrupt any momentum being built. James Longhawn then wins the turnover and scrum half Conor Hardaker moves the ball quickly wide and after a couple of phases Maxwell Lee, playing at fly half, steps through the defensive line and scores under the posts. He converts his try and after 4 minutes Yarnbury lead by 7. 5 minutes later Yarnbury score again following an excellent catch and drive from a lineout on North Ribblesdale’s 22. The drive gets close before Jacob Rawson is released to score. The conversion hits the post and bounces clear but the lead is extended to 12. A poor re-start by Yarnbury puts them on the back foot but good tackles by flankers Sam Brown and Saman Azari and hooker Will Sheldon, aided by Jack Brownridge clearing up loose ball on the floor, slowly provides territorial advantage. Another score looks certain but a poor pass in the backline is knocked on with a 2 man overlap.

In the 22 minute a kick and chase sees Yarnbury recover the ball near the North Ribblesdale try line but the ball is held up for a 5m scrum. James Longhawn attacks from the base and drives over to score. Maxwell Lee completes the conversion. A better re-start sees Jack Brownridge take the ball into contact and quick clear-out allows Yarnbury to clear their lines. In the next phase a huge tackle by Saman Azari forces the turnover which sees Josh Dunn released to break the initial tackle and run half the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Maxwell Lee again completes the conversion; Yarnbury 19-0 North Ribblesdale. North Ribblesdale look to respond but a good attack is quashed by a Joe Ward tackle taking player and ball into touch for a Yarnbury lineout which is unfortunately knocked on for a North Ribblesdale scrum. A strong tackle by James Longhawn forces a lose pass which Jamie McDonnell is able to kick through. Play is taken up to the North Ribblesdale try line but Yarnbury are adjudged to have knocked on. North Ribblesdale have possession on Yarnbury’s 22 but, with the last play of the half, James Longhawn again secures turnover. The ball is quickly moved to Jamie McDonnell on the touchline and he shows fantastic speed to score near the corner. The conversion is missed. Half time: Yarnbury 31-0 North Ribblesdale.

An injury to a North Ribblesdale player reduces the game to 14 aside. Yarnbury have the upper hand with lots of territorial advantage but handling errors stop any momentum to increase the score line. After 15 minutes and against the run of play North Ribblesdale intercept a pass resulting in a clear run to score under the posts; Yarnbury 31-7 North Ribblesdale. From the re-start Yarnbury recover the bouncing ball and James Longhawn steps two players to take play deep into the North Ribblesdale 22. At the next ruck Yarnbury mistake the 5m line for the try line but still maintain possession. However the ball is held up in the next drive for a 5m scrum. A solid Yarnbury scrum sees the ball quickly shifted to Jacob Rawson at inside centre to drive through and score near the posts. He is then given kicking duties to convert his own try. Yarnbury 38-7 North Ribblesdale.

During the next phase of play numerous errors by Yarnbury allow North Ribblesdale to attack and they take play up to the Yarnbury try line before being penalised, allowing Yarnbury to clear their lines. Sam Brown then makes a clean break in his own half and shows great stamina and pace to elude the covering defence and score. The conversion is missed. Near the end of the half Yarnbury are penalised for handling in the ruck and North Ribblesdale surprisingly elect to kick a 30m penalty which is successfully completed. Full time: Yarnbury 43-10 North Ribblesdale.

Yarnbury: Josh Dunn, Joe Ward, Jamie McDonnell, Jacob Rawson, Issac Endersby, Maxwell Lee, Connor Hardaker, Kaiden Verity, Will Sheldon, Dan Mitchell, Dan Shannon, Jack Brownridge, Saman Azari, Sam Brown, James Longhawn (capt)

Replacements: Jonny Suttcliffe, Ross Dawson

Man of the Match: Jack Brownridge