A MUCH-changed Yarnbury side lost a tricky Yorkshire Two encounter 27-14 at Wath Upon Dearne on Saturday.

For the first 35 minutes, despite six changes in the team, Yarnbury managed the game well and their defence held out comfortably the bigger pack.

Wath used their bulky pack to crash forward and their stand-off Jack Whitlam pushed Yarnbury back with astute kicking with the breeze.

The first clean break of the game came from Yarnbury. Wing forward Alex Crowther made a great breakthrough with an elusive run, beating several players but in the 22 metre line with support either side he decided to beat one too many defenders and the chance went begging.

As the half came to a close, from a line-out close in Wath forwards rumbled forward and prop James McCarty crashed over for an unconverted try.

Then right before the break they went further ahead when No 8 Shaun Hopper got over from again close in for Whitlam to convert, opening up a 12-0 lead.

The second half started brightly for the Horsforth side as they worked the blind side to get their left winger in to an overlap who slipped the cover to score. George Oldridge converted to put Yarnbury back in the game.

Winger Josh Bell looked dangerous but never got enough space to create openings as the pack came under increasing pressure from the home side.

Wath were happy to take a straight forward penalty from Whitlam on 55 minutes to increase their lead. They went further ahead in the right corner through winger Anthony Barrett for the third try, which was unconverted.

Wath put the game out of Yarnbury reach on 70 minutes with a try from Hopper, converted by scrum-half Adam Clarke.

Oldridge scored a consolation try for Yarnbury after backing up a swift counter attack from the Yarnbury backs, who finally got through the home defence. Oldridge quickly converted.

Yarnbury will need to regroup this Saturday when league leaders Roundhegians arrive at Brownberrie Lane for a 3pm kick-off.