Cleve 3^rds 10 Yatton 3^rd’s 14

10 Sept 2005

Acting Captain Adrian Noble did a magnificent job in gathering players for this first 3^rd Team Merit Competition, against Cleve, who were undoubtedly the best in the Competition last year.

He brought together a fine blend of young and old with the emphasis on the young, as Billy Osborne and Ollie Noble made their debuts in Senior rugby, and both used their exceptional talents to make an impact on the occasion.

It was an afternoon of literally family rugby with three Nobles and three Wakefields represented.

Adrian Noble himself provided the older faction, together with veterans Art Simms and Andy Pond who added the much needed experience up front.

The Cleve forwards were clearly much stronger than the Yatton eight and won enough ball to wrap the game up early, but defiant defence by the Yatton’s youngsters denied them scores for a lot of the first half.

Against the run of play it was Yatton who scored first with a break down field, gathered by Adrian Noble, who cleverly chipped ahead in Cleve’s 22. John Parsons was in position to get the touch down but was illegally blocked and Yatton were awarded a penalty try converted by Adrian.

Cleve was in constant attack, and Yatton defending in sterling fashion, when a quick break from Tom Phillips covered the length of the field before he was stopped, and John Parsons was again on hand, this time to score himself. Noble added the points.

These conversions were to prove crucial as it was Cleve who won the second half with tries of their own, both coming from their physical forwards, with the Yatton ‘s youngsters tiring and the penalty count going against them, but Yatton held out to get a memorable win to start the season in excellent fashion.