A LATE penalty saw Yarnbury edge a close 18-15 home win in the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy on Saturday.

Yarnbury and North Ribblesdale fought out a tight league game at Settle a fortnight ago when the bragging rights went to the home side and Yarnbury were looking for revenge and the chance to compete for silverware and a possible fight next season in the appropriate National Cup with a final at Twickenham Headquarters.

So for these two teams it was an incentive to win the fixture and a credit to both teams they were prepared to play in every round even with a demanding league season.

Yarnbury were again looking to fill positions due to injuries but they put out a competitive side.

The experienced James Barrett was back after long-term injury at the back of the scrum and used his leadership skills to help a young side

Prop Pete Tennant also was drafted in to add his experience and play anywhere scrum half Nigel Benton filled in at full back.

Returning Joe Pinnick was back in his centre spot, moving inside for Luke Cowley to come in on the right wing.

The game was open from the start as both sides decided to throw the ball about looking for space.

From a ruck in their 22, Danny Pound had a clearing kick charged down by Ribblesdale wing forward Will Booth and second row Adam Middleton took the bouncing ball over the line for the first try. Stand off Mick Thwaite was just wide with the conversion.

Yarnbury then had a period of pressure and winger Cowley was put away down the right for a good run before being brought down in the 22.

The ball was recycled by the pack but the ball was killed in the ruck by the opposition, and in front of the posts stand off Pound took the three points

After North Ribblesdale squandered a chance, Yarnbury broke the gain line in fine style with second row James Falgate bursting into space, but the ball was lost in the tackle and Ribblesdale winger Freddie Howarth made good ground from a defensive position.

Yarnbury lost second row Tom Goldthorpe to an injury but Paul Kernick came on and did a job in the engine room as Yarnbury showed dominance in the scrum, totally opposite to the recent league game with the front row of Richard Lister, hooker Chris Doyle and Tennant giving the opponents some pressure in the tight.

From a steady scrum, Pound put wing forward into space and handed on to winger Cowley, who did very well to make the line with his opposite number hanging on in the tackle. The conversion failed from the touch line, and Falgate and Kernick knocked on on the line as Yarnbury applied the pressure at the end of the half.

This game would go to the wire and was evenly matched as both sides pushed to gain dominance.

Yarnbury were giving away penalties, but luckily Thwaite missed a chance on the left.

After 60 minutes, hooker Tom Whitfield and back row Alex Bennett were on to give fresh legs as Yarnbury pressed for another try.

From good controlled ball after several recycles, Pound took a short pass at pace and dummied his way through a narrow gap fooling the defence and converted in front of the sticks to open a ten-point gap.

Then Ribblesdale's diminutive young winger Omari Kaup-Samuels got on the end of a ball after the Ribblesdale pack were brought up short on the Yarnbury line. The dependable Thwaite converted and then took his chance again with another penalty as Ribblesdale were level at 15-15.

Yarnbury, to their credit, brought back Barrett to lead by example and Yarnbury attacked the opponent's line and after concerted pressure were awarded a penalty close. Pound held his nerve to convert the winning score in a close tie.