Yarnbury..........19
Ripon..................15
Yarnbury cashed in one of their 'get out of jail free' cards when they scored a converted try in the dying seconds to snatch 19-15 home league victory over visitors Ripon.
Chasing victories in their last two league matches in order to finish fourth in their new league following promotion last season, the Horsforth outfit should, on paper, have dealt comfortably with their bottom of the table visitors.
Ripon, however came with different ideas and, despite their lowly position, fought the home side tooth and nail for the full 80 minutes.
The home side started off better, with their forwards retaining possession and gaining ground in Ripon territory.
The inevitable off-side decision gave Steve Galbraith the opportunity to convert his first of four difficult penalties of the day after five minutes.
Within minutes of the re-start, a similar drive brought the same result, and the Yarnbury faithful seemed set for a comfortable home victory.
Ripon however, had come to play, and their forwards slowly brought them back into the game, continually spoiling Yarnbury possession and turning over the ball with alarming regularity.
A well crafted try brought the visitors deservedly back into the game and, after both sides had exchanged penalties, the teams turned round with the Horsforth side holding a slender 9-8 lead.
The second-half followed much the same pattern as the first, with Yarnbury dominant at the set piece but seemingly unable to retain the ball for more than two or three phases.
Galbraith's fourth penalty gave the home side a 12-8 lead with 20 minutes remaining before Ripon grabbed their second try of the match with 15 minutes to go.
Sensing an opportunity to finish of their season with an away league victory, the Ripon pack drove the ball deep into the Yarnbury 22 and, after sucking in most of the home defenders, pushed the ball wide, allowing their big second rower to saunter over the line untouched One conversion later and the Ripon lads found themselves 15-12 in front their old rivals.
The home side searched in vain for the score that would provide them with two points they so desperately wanted. As the clock ticked down the Ripon defence tightened, sensing a rare victory, frustrating the attacking outfit.
With seconds remaining, a speculative up and under in the visitors' 22 was collected by the Ripon defence and, much to everyone's amazement, run into touch some eight yards from their try line, instead of being booted back up field.
In last chance saloon, Yarnbury took quick ball from the top of their line-out. This was transferred the ball quickly across the pitch via two long miss passes and, with dummy runners distracting the Ripon defence, winger Paul McNulty crossed untouched for the match winning score.
Galbraith slotted a difficult touchline conversion over to give the home side a four point lead and, less than one minute later, the referee called time on an unexpectedly close match.
l On Saturday, Yarnbury travel to Keighley in their last league match of the season where they must win by more than three points to take fourth spot.
Yarnbury U- 12s........28
Roundhegians...........35
Yarnbury took an early lead in a game of three sessions, with good rugby played by both teams. Scott Banks scored two tries, Ben Payne and David Featherstone one try apiece and Paul Downs kicked all four conversions.
Yarnbury U-10s.....25
Roundhegians........0
Yarnbury Under-10's finished their league on a high note with an all round excellent team performance with tries from Adam Cullingworth, Lewis Cooper, Stephen Nolson and two from Michael Everson. With all squad members playing, Yarnbury can look forward to playing the 12 man game next season.
Yarnbury U-9's........40
Roundhegians.........10
Yarnbury Under-9's played two games winning both 20-5. With Oliver Hardaker's return to form, Yarnbury demonstrated their strength in depth and increased their confidence ahead of tour fixtures in Birmingham and Stratford and the Yorkshire cup final against Harrogate.
Try scorers for Yarnbury were: Alex Crowther, Alexander Hally, Oliver Pratt, Oliver Hardaker, Henry Griffiths and three for Tom Moody.
Yarnbury U-8s..........25 Corinthians.............10
The penultimate weekend of the season saw Yarnbury Under-8s enter the Leeds Corinthians' tournament. Playing against the host side in the first game, Yarnbury showed determination to do well, with some good support and excellent handling. This showed in the speed of tries with one each for Daniel Burnside, Joseph Roche, Andre Gwilliam, Jamie Carmichael and Adam Whitfield.
Yarnbury U-8s...........35 Morley.......................30
In the second game, with only three teams in their group, Yarnbury had already qualified for the semi-finals with Corinthians having already lost their two games.
With the two sides evenly matched Yarnbury managed to edge the game to finish top of their group with tries from Jack Malthouse (2), George Oldridge (3), William Griffiths and Josh Bateson.
Yarnbury U-8s.........15
West Park..............20
The semi-final was a disappointing performance after the first two games with Yarnbury being edged out by the eventual tournament winners West Park Bramhope.
Yarnbury tries came fromwith tries from Andre Gwilliam and Josh Malthouse (2).
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