Yatton ride the storm and see future fixture congestion

In gloomy wet and muddy conditions both sides, although missing regular players, provided an excellent display on this mid festive season Saturday.

At the start of this Bristol Combination Cup match old adversaries Bristol Harlequins had advantage of both the wind and light rain managing to pin the home side within their 22 for the first ten minutes. The game turned and it was then Yatton’s chance to play in the visitors half.

Having lost away against Harlequins in the very first League match of this season Yatton seemed the more nervous of the sides, but Yatton’s strength in depth has become the difference as the months have passed.

Wing Lee Millard broke the stalemate on the half hour when threatened back line moves clicked together and he made no doubts of it by touching down in the corner.

As the hardworking forwards battled it out for mid field possession Harlequins deserved their penalty conversion by Gregg Dix deep within first half injury time.

Within five minutes of the second half fullback William Rhys-Davies came into Yattons attacking back line to cross over making the score 10-3.

But the end to end contest continued and it was not until the sixty-fifth minute that Tom Jackson’s penalty conversion edged Yatton further in front.

Despite a change of shirts for the home side at half time the mud caused some comic errors from both sides with at least one opposition player receiving an unexpected pass.

During the last ten minutes of full time brain fogged Yatton were lucky to weather Harlequins storm, during which they were adjudged to have knocked on at the home sides try line on several occasions and Yatton were made to battle against no less than four 5 metre defensive scrums.

Rhys-Davies settled the games outcome, after Yatton broke down field to within Harlequins 22. He took Jackson’s pop up pass at pace and left Jackson an easy conversion beneath the posts.

Yatton’s finishing injury time flurry saw second row Neil Hynam fly hacking a loose ball trying to bend it like Beckham and shortly after dogged prop Stu Hill was cruelly denied his try when adjudged held up over the line as the final whistle blew. Seeking consolation he stayed prostrate in the mud and wet grass for a long time after, as all the other players trooped off for a warm shower.

This result means that Yatton remain in each of 3 Cup Competitions as well as facing important League fixtures.

This Saturday Yatton 1^st XV travel for a tough match against Gloucester side Gordon League where Yatton aim to maintain their Top Of The Table ambitions