Saturday 8th
October 2005 (League Match)
19 10
Lack of preparation, underrating the opposition and not getting the measure of the pitch before the game cost Yatton their reputation. Even in critical times players played out of position and without experience whereas Avonmouth Old Boys had the right mind set from the kick off and their well-drilled pack knew exactly what they were going to do.
There was no respect for Yatton’s second position in the league and they were starved of the ball for the first 30 minutes.
Yatton conceded two kickable penalties within the first 15 minutes and Old Boys Mat Manuell made sure of them.
As the Old Boys pack dominated Clayton Home crashed over from the back of a driving maul to put his team on 11 points with no reply.
But from the restart Sam Osborne’s penalty opportunity for Yatton glanced in off the upright.
Five minutes later from a quick penalty and open play, Nick Garnham received the final pass to touchdown under the posts and Osborne put Yatton back into the game at 11-10 with his conversion.
For 15 minutes Yatton looked good but Avonmouth wanted this game and the Old Boys finished the first half on the attack, edging further in front on 55 minutes with another penalty.
Prop Grant Britton’s try from a classic lineout take-and-drive within Yatton’s 22 10 minutes later proved to be the last of the points.
The Old Boys defence then resisted any attempt by Yatton to once again play catch up rugby for the remainder of the game and walked away with their surprising and well-deserved victory.