Yarnbury 35 Pontefract 20

Yarnbury ensured that they completed 2014 unbeaten at home as they maintained their 100 per cent Yorkshire One record at Brownberrie Lane with another convincing victory.

Pontefract have been a bogey side for Yarnbury in the past, but on this occasion they were second best.

With Jason Avison out injured, James Myerscough was into the centre alongside Ben Horner and Alex Clarke and Rob Rigby played on the wings. Versatile Lee Mortimer lined up in his favoured position of full back.

The key to this game proved to be the kicking duel between the experienced Glen Boyd for Pontefract and Yarnbury’s young pretender, Ollie Hardaker.

Pontefract play with a typical physical approach and the Yarnbury pack needed to be fully committed from the off in their battle for supremacy.

Pontefract had the advantage of the wind in the first half and Yarnbury had to defend long kicks from Boyd.

When they managed to break out of their half they took the lead with a penalty by Hardaker.

Liam Kay missed a chance to level the scores before making it 3-3 with his second penalty kick.

Yarnbury responded by scoring the first try. A catch and drive split the Pontefract pack for No 8 James Barrett to claim the touch down. Hardaker added the extras.

Pontefract were stung by the score and hit back after Yarnbury knocked on following on a speculative kick.

The visitors swept left, making an overlap for winger Jordan Gill to score and Kay to convert.

The Yarnbury pack were determined to exert their authority and wing forward Jimmy Cryan charged over in athletic style with two Pontefract tacklers carried over the line as he touched down to regain the lead for the Horsforth side at half-time.

The second half saw Yarnbury take control in impressive fashion with the pack magnificent and the back row dominant in attack and defence.

With Cryan and Joe Bennett making hard yards and Henry Griffiths, not only winning his lineout ball but disrupting the visitors’ attempts.Yarnbury attacked with gusto.

Cryan stole out of a ruck and charged for the line for his second try and then winger Rigby used his pace to score the bonus-point try.

Yarnbury rounded off their afternoon’s work with a fine try which was fashioned on the training ground.

Barrett won clean line-out ball which enabled hooker Tom Gilchrist to charge away unopposed. In between, stand-off Hardaker slotted one conversion and a penalty.

On this form Yarnbury can beat anybody in the division at home. All they need now is away points.