Key figures return to put Pound and Yarnbury on upward curve

WELCOMING back some senior players for the first time this season seemed to make all the difference to Yarnbury.

The forwards were bolstered by Tom Gilchrist and Jimmy Cryan in the back row and James Falgate in the second row, which added some poundage to the scrum.

Captain Oliver Cashman was back at scrum half, and Steve Riley and Graham Maycock in the centres added much-needed experience, while colt Eddie Child made his debut on the right wing to complement Ellis Gomersall.

However, the most important position was at fly half, where Yarnbury have been struggling this season, the diminutive Daniel Pound being elevated from the Hornets.

Yarnbury have been blessed with two outstanding No 10s – Kevin Robinson, now on the coaching staff, filled the role for over 20 years, while Carl Paterson followed in the same mould.

To add spice to the encounter, former Yarnbury colt Toby Atkin started for York.

No 8 Cryan punched some early holes in the visitors' defence, but was then penalised when near the York line.

Then Riley was sin-binned for retaliation in a ruck before Pound's long pass was intercepted by centre Alex Speck.

He was tackled by Graham Maycock but scrum half Atkin picked up the loose ball to score, winger George Davies converting.

The dose was unbelievably repeated ten minutes later, Davies intercepting this time to go under the posts and convert, making it 14-0 despite all of the home side's pressure.

However, Yarnbury hit back with a superb long-distance try down the left, Gomersall's pace and strength taking him over wide on the left after quick hands.

Pound just missed the conversion but was successful on 37 minutes after a catch and drive brought a Gilchrist try, and the bonus-point try came three minutes later with what could be the try of their season.

Yarnbury broke out of their 22 down the left for Gomersall to knock off defenders and race up into the opponents' 22 before being put to ground but the ball was quickly recycled right for winger Child to dive under the opposition in the corner.

For most of the game, York were being made to look ordinary, and the home side scored two further tries in the third quarter.

Slick winger Gomersall capitalised on a long period of home possession, Pound converting, but York, to their credit, kept going and, from a wheeled scrum after a succession of penalties, the referee awarded them a penalty try.

Davies converted and they added a pushover try, with Falgate being sin-binned.

In between, Graham Maycock made impressive ground with a jinking run, Yarnbury adding the finishing touches to an impressive team display with second-row Ian Maycock finishing off a try down the left, taking a pass from prop Richard Lister.

With this team and commitment, Yarnbury can compete with all of the teams in the division as the balance and go-forward is there and, with young Pound orchestrating play, they can go onwards and upwards.