YATTON R F C - WESTERN COUNTIES (NORTH) League

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

Saturday 16th Sept 2006 (League Match)

Yatton 1^st XV vs Gloucester Old Boys 1^st XV

12 10

Yatton Scorers - Pens Osborne 4

Referee gets the Hump

On the road last Saturday, minutes before refereeing Yatton 1^st XV against Gloucester, Referee Ian Hawkes got the ‘hump’ in a big way. Locals said afterwards that it was more likely that the ‘hump’ had got him. Before the match only one or two people knew about the accident and it was totally down to his stoic professionalism that no one else knew and it didn’t affect his performance one iota. Although players said afterwards, when they got to know about it, that on reflection he did seem to get a bit ‘over twitchy’ if anyone tried ‘bridging’ in a ruck. It was only after the match when Mr Hawkes was over heard making contact with a take-away-a-write-off-yard that the news filtered through. Eyewitnesses to the moors incident could only state a baa or a moo. But although he had been travelling alone his wife and young daughter were able to add some comments of ‘enlightenment’ when they arrived later.

Two evenly matched sides provided worthwhile entertainment for a crowd pf over 300 spectators.

Yattons defence held out against an early onslaught and as the game swung in their favour they were first on the board with Sam Osborne’s penalty on 15 minutes.

After 30 minutes a crucial mistake by Yatton in their attacking lineout gave Old Boys the chance to break through and win a five-metre scrum. Yatton’s back row were noticeably absent as Gloucester’s No 8 Joe Gordon slipped through from the back of the scrum.

Osborne’s penalty in the last minutes of the first half edged Yatton in front at 6-5 for half time.

The Old Boys again tested Yatton’s defence as the homeside’s attacks lacked cohesion and the Old Boys were unlucky with knockons at the final pass.

Osborne’s boot, however gave Yatton another penalty conversion after 60 minutes.

But Old boys threatened breakthrough finally came 10 minutes later to give centre Danny Gombera his unconverted try.

As the last 10 minutes became intense a series of five metre attacking scrums for Yatton eventually bore fruit with Osborne’s fourth penalty conversion of the afternoon.

The Yatton Vice Presidents Man of the Match was Stuart Castle

This Saturday Yatton 1^st XV travel to recently regulated Keynsham.