Bradford and Bingley 51 Yarnbury 19

WITH the floodwaters that engulfed Wagon Lane having happily receded the two teams were happy to play on a muddy and soft surface.

This was the homecoming for league leaders Bradford & Bingley who were confronted by a Yarnbury side which was resting several key players who were nursing injuries.

From the offset the pack took the game to Bradford & Bingley and kept the ball tight but after eight minutes the Bingley outfit punched down the middle and then opened an overlap on the left wing for centre Taylor Fiddes to score an unconverted try.

The Bees followed up by kicking a penalty to the corner and forcing a line-out which saw No 8 Tom Cummins score from a rolling maul. Scrum half Richard Scull converted the try to make it 12-0

South African stand off Gerhard Nortier, playing his last game before returning to home for the Currie Cup, was a constant threat and he set up the third try. His break put winger Adam Mitchell in space and the supporting Ben Greaves went over for the try.

Adam Mitchell was the next Bees player on the scoresheet before Nortier's probings brought him a try which Scull converted.

The sixth and final try of the first half came when Nick Gore took an interception to score on the break. It meant the Bees had a 34-0 lead.

The young Yarnbury side weren't fazed by the experience and cosmopolitan nature of the opposition. They actually shaded the second half 19-17 with some spirited play.

Yarnbury finally opened their account when second row Ian Maycock added to his growing try tally. Danny Pound added the conversion.

Yarnbury showed the home side it was no fluke by repeating the dose with an impressive catch and drive from a line out following successive penalties. The pack rolled the home side with ease for wing forward Tom Gilchrist to score.

On 60 minutes the referee gave both teams the chance to abandon the game but both sides wanted to carry on.

Tom Cummins scored his second try on the breakaway in impressive fashion up the slope as the ground deteriorated in the sleet and wind but Yarnbury had a foot in the game now.

The Bees had something to think about when Yarnbury scored a third try in the 62nd minute when the impressive Jimmy Cryan went over.

Yarnbury pressed for a bonus-point try but it was Bradford & Bingley who rounded off the scoring when Gore went over for his second try.