York 20 Yarnbury 20

YARNBURY are sitting pretty in third spot in Yorkshire One after holdingYork to a draw at Clifton Park.

With influential No8 Jimmy Cryan still unfit captain Oliver Cashman moved into the back with Nathan Benton taking over his scrum half position.

It meant that Benton was in direct opposition to former Yarnbury junior Toby Atkin who is studying at York.

Yarnbury got off to a flying start with full back Stuart Wilson scoring a try under the posts in the first minute after No8 James Barrett had made good ground. Carl Paterson added the conversion.

The visitors were unable to build on the lead as their play became sloppy with knock ons, charged down kicks and offside decisions allowing York to build up a head of steam.

York had plenty of possession but the defensive play was solid and all York had to show for their efforts was a solitary George Davies penalty.

Yarnbury were frustrated that referee Calvin Pender from Pontefract penalised their backs on half a dozen occasions for stepping offside but never the opposition which stymied their attacking efforts.

It was no surprise when York took the lead. They broke out of defence down the right wing for full back Alex Nickson to score a try near the posts which Davies converted.

A Yarnbury attack soon after gave Paterson the chance to level the scores with a penalty at a time when captain Cashman was in the sin bin.

The early part of the second half was a stalemate with defences on top. Yarnbury's pack was looking impressive with Barrett and second row Henry Griffiths making the hard yards while props Adam Pike and Richard Lister provided a solid platform in the scrums.

York retook the lead when another break out wide gave Nickson his second try which Davies converted.

Winger Ellis Gomersall had a try disallowed before right winger Lee Mortimer was then given a chance from quick ball and made the line for a try which replacement stand-off Ollie Hardaker could not convert.

Yarnbury scored again to take the lead when Gomersall touched down after a strong run down the left following good work from centre’s Jason Avison and Ben Horner. Hardaker, who had also missed a penalty, was off target with the conversion.

For the last ten minutesCarl Paterson came back on to steady the ship and Yarnbury nearly saw out a good away win until Ben Horner was penalised for stripping the ball from an opponent and Davies levelled the scores with the penalty kick.