Wath-upon-Dearne 39

Yarnbury 10

YARNBURY are struggling for availability of senior players and were forced to travel to South Yorkshire with several changes particularly in the forwards.

They were up against a mighty pack fielded by the home side led by captain Adam West.

Yarnbury were without both regular props and experienced second row Ian Maycock and number eight James Cryan a week away from returning.

Also back row Martin Rainey was detailed at work at the last minute so were without balance in the back row.

However, this was offset by a plucky 17-player squad who did the name of Yarnbury proud in a difficult game.

With their first team pitch not available for the start of the season, the old sloping pitch was utilised and was always going to be a game of two halves with the Horsforth side given the slope for the first 40 minutes.

Yarnbury were tested from the kick-off but the defence held firm and pressure was exerted down the slope with touch finding kicks from stand-off Daniel Pound.

However, Yarnbury could not make the break through and, with their first attack and forward drives, held out Wath managed to get over in the left-hand corner through centre Ash Rothery.

This was followed by another on the same side by wing Rory Anderson, converted by Jack Whitlam.

Yarnbury regrouped and attacks down the flanks saw both wings Luke Cowley and Graham Maycock pulled down short and the danger averted.

Wath scored a third try through full-back Tom Quinn and stand-off Jack Whitlam converted a penalty for a Yarnbury offside.

This was before the visitors managed to make space out right after a good break from hooker for winger Graham Maycock to score in the corner. Pound missed with the conversion.

The second-half was hard work for the away side defending heroically against a big pack.

But the tries kept coming particularly from close in and, from two five-metre scrums, Adam West got over twice the second time from a slick back pass from scrum-half Joe Bartlett opening a clear space for the try.

Tom Gilcrist came on in the back row after Yarnbury lost second row James Falgate with a knock on the hard ground. He managed to organise the scrums and set pieces after sterling work by the young Yarnbury back row of Calum Fawcett,Tom Warriner and George Bowen.

James White managed an interception upfield and was caught short, but the ball was recycled to supporting back row Bowen who managed to get over up the hill for a Yarnbury consolation try.

This was before a Wath breakaway in the final moments saw wing Sam Holt over down the left against a tired defence. Jack Whitlam converted two of the three second-half tries.