Bramley Phoenix 0

Yarnbury 31

FOLLOWING an excellent result away to Old Crossleyans Yarnbury followed up their winning start to the 1998-99 season with a thumping away victory against old rivals Bramley Phoenix.

Relegated to the Yorkshire Leagues at the end of last season, the home side had a point to prove against their North East Division Three neighbours from Horsforth and took to the pitch seemingly well prepared and ready for action.

From the opening whistle, however, the shift in power base over recent years was plainly obvious as the Horsforth side comfortably outgunned the home team in all departments.

Yarnbury's front five of Craig Holgate (prop), Martin Booth (hooker), Andy Rivett (prop), and second rowers Lian Rigby and Matthew Burton, set a solid platform which allowed half-backs Steve Lee and Ian Whitehurst to dictate the pace of the game.

An early Steve Lee penalty was immediately followed up by a magnificent team try which began on the Yarnbury 10-yard line.

A line-out catch, drive and two successive rucks gave Yarnbury's flying new winger John Bramham the merest whiff of the try line. From 40 yards out he rounded his opposite number and then proceeded to beat the Bramley full-back with considerable aplomb and a touch of style to boot, giving Yarnbury an 8-0 lead. Steve Lee missed the conversion, his only error in an otherwise faultless display.

Lee increased Yarnbury's lead with another penalty 10 minutes later before veteran centre Phil Deacon rolled back the years with a startling turn of pace to score a second try for the Horsforth outfit from some 25 yards out.

Steve Lee slotted a difficult conversion from the touchline to give Yarnbury an 18-0 lead as half-time approached. A further Lee penalty just before the break gave his side an unassailable 21-0 lead as the teams turned round.

Mark Griffiths (centre) and back rowers Rivett and Butterfield continued to torment the Bramley three-quarters in the second-half. Club stalwart Billy Thompson majestically crossed the line untouched for Yarnbury's third try of the match, again converted by Lee. With a 28-0 lead, their old rivals should have been put to the sword but, as they have done in the past, the Horsforth side took its foot off the pedal.

The final 20 minutes was a fairly dour affair, although replacement back-rower Adrian Moule, and debutant winger Paul McNulty made an encouraging contribution to the team effort.

Steve Lee finished off the scoring with a cheeky penalty chip in front of the post and the game ended with the Horsforth outfit 'nilling' their old rivals.

With their second and third fifteens also winning, Yarnbury completed a pleasureable and long awaited 'blue-rinse' over their old Bramley rivals.

This week Yarnbury open their league campaign with an away match at Thornensians.

Bramley B 12

Yarnbury B 34

Following their opening salvo at Otliensians Yarnbury thirds travelled to Bramley with several team changes.

Carl Spurk made his debut for the club but whereas the previous week had seen some champagne football, Saturday's game was punctuated by errors and consequently a disjointed game took place with many try scoring opportunities bering wasted as a result of passes going astray or the ball being lost in the tackle.

From one of the better passages of play Adams scored a good try with others coming from Osborne, Taylor, Verity, Thompson and Butler, two of which were converted by Pound.

Yarnbury Fourths 52

Menwith Hill 0

Yarnbury fourths again found themselves up against a first team and they gained a satisfactory win.

With several changes Yarbury were ready for a tough match and played it tight in the pack gaining the majority of possession and giving their backs good ball.

Showing good ball retention and winning several scrums against the head the Yarnbury pack completely dominated and the home side were 40 points up at half-time.

Menwith showed more resolve in the second-half snd with Yarnbury easing off only 12 further points were added.

However, with two good wins under their belt the fourths look forward to another successful season.

Mark Winder had a competent debut with two tries and other tries came from Graham Hastie (2), Jon Sellars and Dave Roberts with the father and son combination of Fred and Steve Harrison providing the remainder of the points. Fred kicked five conversions while son Steve scored two tries and kicked one conversion.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.