Sandal 65 Yarnbury 5 EDF Senior Vase
This EDF Energy Senior Vase fixture saw Yorkshire 2 side Yarbury visit Sandal for only the second time in the history of the two clubs.
The so far unbeaten Sandal, who had Sam Whittingham back in the side following his return from Halifax, started brightly but were unable to breach the Yarnbury defence due to handling errors, over elaboration and allowing Yarnbury too much turnover ball. The first score eventually came to Sandal on 22 minutes when Chris Reakes converted a penalty following a Yarnbury infringement at the ruck. Sandal then extended their lead when right winger Dave Ell scored the first try of the day following a swift passing movement by the Sandal back line with full back Reakes delivering the final pass and he then converted from wide out. Yarnbury were not to be outdone and following quick turnover ball which saw the home defence stretched scored when left winger Rayner crossed wide out. The conversion was missed but Sandal soon restored their ten point lead when Danny Mitchell scored too wide out for Reakes to convert to leave the score 15 points to 5 at half time.
The team faced a stern half time lecture from Head Coach Jim Kilfoyle and they responded with No 8 Richard Wade scoring after 50 seconds of the restart. Whilst the Yarnbury team could have capitulated when Reakes converted from the touchline, they did not allow their heads to drop. However, as the game went on they eventually tired and started to drop off tackles and were unable to hold a Sandal side that were prepared to attack at every opportunity. Both man of the match Wade and Ell went on to complete hat tricks (Ell now has 8 tries for the season) with further scores coming from centre Dan McCormack, prop Rob Norbury and hooker Sam Tee . Chris Reakes finished with six conversions and one penalty. Coach Jim Kilfoyle took the opportunity to give all replacements a run out with young prop Luke Norbury coming off the bench to make his first team debut.
Sandal will no doubt face sterner opposition this season but for the first hour Yarnbury made it tough for the Milnthorpe Green men.
|
