Wath 27 Yarnbury 14

Persistent rain in the morning suggested a heavy pitch but, as the rain stopped, the conditions were perfect for Yarnbury’s visit to Moor Road. Wath opened brightly. However, the opposition held firm and began to dominate territory. Stretching the resilient home defence, Yarnbury failed to take several chances due to handling errors and superb cover tackling led by Adam Clarke, Wath’s third scrum half in four games this season.
Dependable Jack Whitlam kicked Wath into a 3-0 lead from a penalty on 10 minutes as Wath temporarily ventured into the Yarnbury half. The away team resumed dominance but were still unable to turn pressure into points.
The introduction of prop, Anthony Hamilton, after half an hour, saw a shift in the pattern of the game. Wath scrambled out of defence and, following a passage of loose play, centre, Patrick Selkirk, floated a pass to prop, James McCarthy, loitering on the wing. He cruised over the line for the opening try. With the conversion hitting the post, Wath‘s advantage moved to 8-0. Sean Hopper, Wath’s No.8, drove over for a try under the posts in the last play of the half and the simple conversion gave Wath a 15-0 at the break.
Yarnbury struck first in the second half with a fine try worked on the blindside and the successful conversion closed the score to 15-7. As the game continued to be played in the Wath half, the home team defence was being continually tested. A clean break from a line out by flanker, Curtis Brownrigg, gained Wath 50 yards and led to a period of Wath pressure. Again, Hopper’s power and determination proved too much for the away team and he forced his way over the line for a second try. Whitlam’s conversion into the wind dropped short, but Wath had been given some breathing space as the score moved to 20-7.
As in the first half, Wath scored their tries in pairs and Anthony Barratt, having moved to stand off for the injured Jack Whitlam, produced a decisive burst of pace and scored unopposed beneath the posts. Adam Clarke, taking over the role of kicker, added the two points to ease any lingering doubts of a Yarnbury comeback from 27-7.
The youthful, energetic Yarnbury team continued to battle to the end and they deserved a try in the last minute to make the final score 27-14. A good win in the end for Wath, but Yarnbury must rue several missed chances. A workmanlike performance by the Wath team with the bonus of an outstanding performance of late stand in, Adam Clarke.

European Rugby Correspondent

Steve Corns