Yorkshire Division One: Yarnbury 17 Old Brodleians 45

YARNBURY welcomed back influential second-row James Falgate to bolster the pack, along with prop Lewis Atha. The back row of Russ Gomersall,and Tom Fox also included the youthful Lewis Wray at open-side flanker after a knock the previous week.

Alec Clark returned on the wing, and the centre pairing was captain Stephen Riley and Connor Moreton, giving the side a solid look for the contest against a solid-looking Brodleians side, who have added USA prop Brian Pritchard and Ukrainian centre Michael Grab to their squad this season.

Yarnbury applied early pressure but the five-metre scrum was disrupted.

However, from an attacking scrum for the visitors, Yarnbury broke out down the left via winger Graham Maycock, but the home side failed to convert the chance.

Yarnbury's defensive line was impressive, and much improved on the previous week against a much harder foe, and the game was evenly balanced.

A speculative punt up the middle of the park bounced kindly for the opposition, however, and full back Matty Hoyle calmly cross-kicked for unmarked winger Tom Wilson to score wide left, second row and captain Ollie Akroyd converting well to give the visitors the lead, which was soon increased with a kick through for flanker Bob Sykes to touch down, Akroyd again converting.

Yarnbury pressed for a score, but Brodleians intercepted a pass for winger Wilson to score his second try, converted by Ackroyd.

The hosts had their pockets picked in three breakaways, with only a Danny Pound penalty to show in return, breaks by scrum half Chris Clarke, Graham Maycock and impressive hooker Harry Mincello not being converted into points.

Undeterred, Yarnbury brought on Kieran Davies for Riley to add some pace and an attacking threat in an effort to retrieve the game, while Tom Holden came on in the second row for the injured Ian Maycock.

However, the Horsforth side were undone at a penalty, with Grab scoring from close range, Ackroyd converting.

Then Dan Georgiou got in down the left-hand side, despite having little room to work.

Yarnbury responded well though, and the impressive Jack Brown showed his pace from full back to score an excellent try, converted by Pound.

The hosts continued to attack, Gomersall taking the final pass to get over for a consolation try after a hard-working display, Pound again converting, but Andy Clay and Alex Dawson had the final say with tries for Brods.

Yarnbury are bottom of the table with no points after three fixtures but should secure a victory soon given their enthusiasm and commitment.