Saturday 25
September 2004 (League Match)
32 5
The Yatton team obviously
felt it was about time that they started this season’s league campaign.
Kicks to touch during the
first ten minutes dragged Yatton out of the danger zone and into the
oppositions’ 22.
Dave Keating dummied his way
to a try only to see Matson level the score five minutes later as they broke
through from a maul along the touchline. Dave Merchant touched down but the
conversion flew wide.
Yatton then wasted
opportunities within Matson’s 22 and it took another quarter hour in this
fiercely fought encounter before a penalty edged them in front again.
With Matson’s lineouts being
solid enough the real battle was in the scrums where Yatton definitely had the
edge.
An awarded Penalty Try and
conversion minutes before half time gave Yatton a measure of clear water in the
scores.
Keating’s timely
interception and breakthrough at 55 minutes in Yattons half was finished off by
Nick Garnham's pace. Keatings conversion setting the score at 22-5.
Matson then visibly lost
discipline resulting in having a player binned and Yattons push over try from a
scrum being grounded by No 8 Russ Hancock.
Matson continued to lose
their way against a fired up homeside.
With ten minutes to go full
back Alan Waters rounded off Yattons gutsy display by finishing a classic 3/4s
move from a lineout. But Matson regrouped and pinned down Yattons defence in
the dying minutes.
This Saturday Yatton 1st XV travel away in the League to
Whitehall, which has proven to be Nailsea Backwell’s ‘bogey’ opposition of the
last few weeks.