Goole 0 Yarnbury 27

YARNBURY overcame the most unpleasant playing conditions of the year to overcome steely opponents and record a much-needed Yorkshire Two win.

After having their two previous matches called off due to waterlogged pitches, Yarnbury were determined to make up lost ground in the promotion race.

They were with without key forwards Lewis Atha, Chris Doyle and Ian Maycock, but their pack stood up well to a bruising encounter with the home eight.

Coaches Bob Hood and Gary Walker set up their team perfectly to play against the biting gale in the first half.

Kicking was out of the question so hard yards had to be made with ball in hand. The back row of Jimmy Cryan, George Bowen and Martin Rainey set the tone.

The Yarnbury backs made light of the conditions with some crisp passing, but Yarnbury did squander three scoring opportunities.

Three times, catch and drive moves from the forwards were within five metres of the line when the ball was turned over.

Goole are a hard side to dominate but Yarnbury were rewarded for their hard work with a try just before half-time.

The backs swept out of their half with good passing and a grubber kick through to the line saw full back George Oldridge win the race to the touchdown. Danny Pound couldn’t even see the posts as he attempted the conversion into the gale and it was no surprise he was unable to add the extras.

The second half saw some brief sunshine and the wind dropped before the hailstones came back.

Stand-off Pound and full back Oldridge utilised the conditions by aiming a succession of kicks deep into Goole territory.

Yarnbury extended their lead when Cryan scored from a drive at the scrum with Goole a man down for incessantly killing the ball at the breakdown.

Hooker Tom Whitfield then got on the scoresheet twice when he touched down after impressive mauling from the pack.

With the bonus point in the bag, Yarnbury continued to attack and centre Jason Avison cut diagonally across the park before being brought down short of the line.

Yarnbury recycled the ball and created space on the left for Josh Bateson to outflank a tired defence.

Pound landed one conversion in the testing conditions as Yarnbury completed a well-deserved win.