Too little too late for Yarnbury as they lose to Hullensians

YARNBURY'S form has dipped since Christmas due to injuries and work commitments but the Horsforth side remain focussed on the league and getting the best out of their squad of players

Once again they fielded a much-changed line up with Russ Gomersall deputising for the influential Ian Maycock in the second row, Greg Trencher standing in for No8 James Barrett while Jarrod Huss switched to full back with experienced centre Graham Maycock back in the side.

Hullensians is a most welcoming club but the pitch is short and with a strong wind blowing down the field Yarnbury were facing it for the first half.

Yarnbury gave early penalties away for laying on in the ruck and French full back Etienne Faucher stroked over the first three points for the home side.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men when back row Jimmy Cryan was yellow carded for a high tackle near his own line. Hullensians took advantage with a try when No8 Jason Conroy set up scrum half Chris Smith to score on the blind side.

Yarnbury were defending strongly in a controlled fashion not committing too many men to the rucks with their back row of Joe Bennett, Trencher and Cryan making the tackles to keep out the opposition.

Unfortunately, Yarnbury let in a try on the stroke of half-time with full back Faucher backing up to crash over to make it 13-0.

Hullensians used Conroy at the front to disrupt the usually sound Yarnbury line-out. They also hosted a stream of high kicks to force the visitors to defend.

The game went away from Yarnbury straight after the turnaround after a missed penalty chance from stand off Carl Paterson.

Hullensians went further ahead when second row Luke Coughlan won turnover ball to release scrum half Smith up the left wing unopposed for their third try.

A bonus-point try followed for left wing Jack Snowden who looped round the defenders and chipped full back Huss in a race to the line. With the conversion successful Yarnbury had too much to do despite scoring two late tries.

Firstly, in-form left wing Ellis Gomersall was put away on the halfway line with slick passing to score and a typically excellent conversion from Paterson was reminiscent of the first half of the season when Yarn bury inflicted Hullensians heaviest defeat of the season at Horsforth.

A classic catch at the line-out after Hullensians were penalised for offside by Henry Griffiths in the line and Yarnbury’s driving maul was unstoppable with wing forward Bennett claiming the touchdown.