YATTON R F C  - WESTERN COUNTIES (NORTH) League

Media Contact – Tony Watkins Tel/Fax 01275 – 875944 E-Mail ‘anthonywwatkins @ exchange.uk.com’

 

Saturday 22nd April 2006 (League Match)

 

Yatton        vs      Cheltenham North

               

      47                               36  

 

Yatton Scorers     - Tries Spiller 3, Garnham 2, Keating, M Harris, Con. Jackson 6

 

Champions Cheltenham North were treated to a torrid time by Yatton in this Western Counties North clash.

 

Neither side had much to gain in this end-of-season match except pride. But the hard fought and open game in summer-like heat was a credit to the sport.

 

Having sized each other up, it was a defensive error that gave Matt Dean the chance to ground the ball for North after 15 minutes.

 

Five minutes later, Ian Spiller broke from a rolling maul and Tom Jackson’s conversion gave the home side the lead.

 

On 30 minutes No 8 Spiller, in a supporting role, struck again but within seconds so did Dean for North. As North had a player yellow carded, the end-to-end exhausting battle continued.

 

In first half time injury time, Nick Garnham broke from a strong Yatton scrum to cross, with Jackson converting. In the dying seconds however replacement John Wood repeated the move from a maul for North.

 

Jon Steckbeck’s conversion kept the visitors in contention with a half-time score of 19-17.

 

Within two minutes of the second half starting, Spiller’s hat-trick came from a Garnham pass.

 

Then, with unrelenting pressure from the Yatton pack, scrum half Garnham pounced on spilt ball from a defensive scrum.

 

Jackson’s conversion of both tries put the home side 33-17 ahead.

 

Going into the last quarter, jinking Dave Keating touched down and Jackson inevitably added the extras.

 

North didn’t win league promotion by rolling over and Woods try, with a Steckbeck conversion, added to their tally.

 

With ten minutes left, Dave Maddern’s emphatic try and another conversion gave the visitors hope at 40-31.

 

Having seen the danger signs, Yatton’s resurgence saw the back line come into play. Mike Harris again broke from well within his own half and Jackson struck again with the conversion.

 

But all credit to North, Andy MacDonald’s injury time try in the corner proved to be the game’s last points.