Heath 10 Yarnbury 5

YARNBURY’S expansive game is getting bogged down in the mud. Once again they found the conditions alien to their needs as they were beaten in a gruelling encounter.

Just like their last away fixture at Wath, the Horsforth slide found the going tough on a a small and sticky pitch where one mistake would prove decisive.

Heath have recruited recently with prop Chris Piper coming from Cleckheaton and No 8 Ian Downsborough back from the RAF to give their pack a more formidable look. The back line isn’t small either.

Yarnbury fielded their normal pack who have proved a match for any team in this most competitive of leagues.

It is the backline that is so susceptible to change with several long-term injuries effecting the overall performance. Luckily Stephen Riley was called in to hold the line together at stand off and Ellis Gomersall was back on the left wing for the first time since early season.

With the centres pairing of James Myerscough and Ben Horner solid, Yarnbury should have had enough to go into the game as favourites after putting 50 points on the board when the sides met at Brownberrie Lane earlier in the season.

This league is tough because not only is there a battle for promotion at the top, the bottom eight sides are all fighting to avoid the drop.

Yarnbury looked comfortable in the early stages of the game and repelled the menace of the Heath pack.

The first attack saw the Yarnbury threequarters release left wing Gomersall and he needed some stopping in the corner by the Heath full back Eddie Cartwright at the corner flag.

In their next attack into Yarnbury territory, Heath secured a penalty for a ruck infringement and stand off Ezra Hinchliffe converted from in front of the posts.

Yarnbury were on top and pressing for a try. A catch and drive got over the try line but the referee deemed the ball to be held up.

The Horsforth side continued to press until a slack pass was intercepted by Heath winger Matt Baxendale in his own 22 metre area. He raced away to touch down after handing off Yarnbury winger Alex Clark as he made a valiant chase to stop the score.