YATTON R F C - SOUTH WEST 2 (W) League

Media Contact – Tony Watkins Tel/Fax 01275 – 875944 E-Mail ‘tony@awwandco.com’

Saturday 15th November 2008 (League Match)

Newton Abbot vs Yatton

46 3

Yatton Scorers; Pen T Hill

‘Tough fixture but lessons learnt’

With four regular key position players unavailable travelling Yatton knew that this fixture against a resurgent and third in the league Newton Abbot would test their character.

Nevertheless it took the home sides sprinkling of recent professionals nearly 20 minutes before much heralded No 10 Andy Birkett broke through. Lock Joe Burford on the run added another try minutes later but it was the ‘All Whites’ running rugby and back division which were the major threat undoubtedly helped by a dominant scrum in the first half.

Tony Hill got Yatton on the board with a penalty and they used all their guile to slow or close down the ball during the next quarter. Wayward kicks just gave the oppositions backs what they wanted and it was only Yatton’s dogged tackling which avoided an early slaughter. Unusually it was a flanker’s missed tackle which allowed the next home side try and conversion minutes before the turnround.

Two penalties within the first 10 minutes of the second half eased the All Whites into clear water. Five minutes later things were brewing in close quarter contact for the two sets of forwards, as each fought for custody of the ball. The Yatton second row being yellow carded led to a converted try for the homeside’s wing seconds later.

Remarkably, although one man light, Yatton denied any more points to the homeside for the next 15 minutes and later replacements, used in the pack, noticeably steadied it down or the opposition tired.

But with 10 minutes of normal time to go the visitors received another binning for what looked like vigilante activity around the forwards. Perversely the necessary reshuffling of personnel coincided with Yatton’s best period of attack. Whether it was with the extra strength generated by the indignity of a perceived injustice or not, they worked their way up to the All Whites five yard line and consistently shrugged of the opportunity of an easy three point penalty in an endeavour to go home with a try. But eventually there was no reward during that seven minute period and the All Whites final two converted tries, selling dummies on overlaps during injury time, was just an act of bayoneting the wounded.

This Saturday the 3^rd XV entertain a friendly against Wotton, normal kick off 2-30pm.

Sunday is full of activity. The 1^st XV are pitched against the mighty Bridgwater in the Somerset Cup, Kick Off being at 2-00pm with a Vice Presidents lunch before. The Under 16’s are against Bristol. Under 14’s travel to Frampton Cotterell and all the more Junior sides are off to Avonmouth.