Ripon 35 Yarnbury 33

YARNBURY went into Saturday’s Yorkshire Shield tie without the benefit of any match practice.

The team had a youthful look with centre Jason Avison, who is in his mid twenties, the senior player.

New captain and No8 Jimmy Cryan was rested for the start of the league campaign so Adam Batson led the side.

Ripon had their new head of coaching, the ex-Yarnbury hooker Tom Gilchrist, on the bench.

Rustiness was in evidence as Ripon gained impetus and field advantage which resulted in hooker Adam Newcombe scoring a try from close in which fly half Tim Tomlin converted.

Yarnbury finally got into their stride and looked too fast and slick in the threequarters for the Ripon side.

Avison finished off a free-flowing move which centre Kieran Davies converted superbly from wide out.

The Horsforth side continued to dominate with young wing Sam Oxley finishing another fast backs move. Davies slotted another superb conversion.

The good work and dominance was undone by a dropped kick off giving Ripon the chance to attack from the 22 metre line. The move resulted in centre Josh Seal going over for a try which Tomlin converted to level the scores.

Yarnbury continued to press with new scrum half Charlie Clark and full back Jack Brown looking quick f.

Ripon’s discipline crumbled in the second quarter and on four consecutive occasions Kieran Davies punished the home side to open up a commanding 33-14 lead at the break.

The second half was a different story. Ripon scored a try immediately after the restart and added another from No8 Harry Scurr near the posts which was converted by Tomlin.

The pressure was on for the win. Decisive score came when It came when Tomlin got in from close range and also landed the conversion. Davies missed with two long-range efforts that could have won an entertaining contest for Yarnbury.