Report courtesy of the Weston Mercury www.thewestonmercury.co.uk

Hornets 34 pts Yatton 20 pts

IN an entertaining, if error-strewn, game, Hornets prevailed over their near-neighbours Yatton by six tries to three.

In the first few minutes, Hornets lost scrum-half Phil Edwards with a leg injury, replaced by Chris Disney with open-side flanker Andrew Bradbury taking over at scrum-half.

Gary Higgins opened the scoring in the corner following good work by Wes Palmer and a second try quickly followed when Dan Murphy was driven over following a classical catch and drive from an attacking line-out set up by Mark Devine and converted by Cody Rees for a 12-0 lead.

Although Hornets pack dominated set scrums and line-outs, Yatton got into the game when Dave Keating set up a try for Nick Garnham, converted by Tony Hill. A second strike against the head by Dave Bird enabled Palmer to set off on a powerful run to the Yatton line, but broke down through lack of support and Keating was able to clear.

For the second half, Mike Taylor replaced Ian Marshall in an effort to bring Hornets back division more into the game. A steal at a line-out on half way by Phil Hogarth and a clever kick over the Yatton defence by Rees enabled Higgins to score his second try to take the score to 17-10, when Yatton kicked an easy penalty.

Hornets quickly increased their lead when the pack drove over the Yatton line and the try was credited to Mark Devine, converted by Rees. Hornets fifth try soon followed when a huge drive by the pack created space on the blind side which was exploited by Palmer and Paul Sheppard, the final pass taken by Bradbury to score in the corner.

Yatton were next to score when indiscipline at a line-out by Hornets was capitalised on by Stu Hill who crossed in the corner to bring the score to 29-15 to Hornets.

Mark Devine scored his second try when he backed up Wes Palmer's break from an attacking scrum for Hornets final points of the game.

Yatton scored their third try following Dave Bird's sin-binning when Chris Harris crossed.