Bradford Salem...16

Yarnbury................15

YARNBURY were knocked out of the Yorkshire Shield after conceding a last minute try to local rivals Salem.

With 14 players unavailable due to injury and a stag weekend Yarnbury were facing a tough assignment.

However, they were always in a position to win the game and should have made better use of possession. There were also numerous missed penalty kicks which ultimately were to prove decisive.

The visitors started strongly and a wonderful try was created by centre Simon Briers, who after interpassing with Martin Rivett allowed Andy Cowley to waltz under the posts to score.

Steve Galbraith converted. Salem replied with a penalty before the ever-alert Simon Briers latched onto a loose ball to run 30 yards to score in the corner to give Yarnbury a healthy 12-3 lead with 15 minutes played. Yarnbury looked in control.

The scrummage was going forward and some towering kicks from Riley ensured good field position.

Sadly, however, Yarnbury failed to capitalise and their performance became worse as the game progressed, unable to gain continuity or secure line-out ball. Andy Marshall had to leave the field with a groin injury allowing Philip Deacon a return to first team action after a spell on loan to Wibsey.

Gradually Salem started to throw the ball around and pressurise the Yarnbury line and they kicked two penalties before Steve Riley extended the Yarnbury lead with a penalty.

Both Galbraith and Riley were guilty of missing kicks they both would normally have converted and this ensured a close finish.

Entering the final minutes and trailing 9-15 Salem elected to run several penalties before the Yarnbury line was breached as a result of poor defence.

There was no real time to reply and Salem were elated when the final whistle blew.

N Ribblesdale..........0

Hornets.................72

The Hornets travelled to North Ribblesdale and put on a show for the crowd as they blitzed the opposition in a 12-try romp. North Ribblesdale were no match for the Hornets who had too much pace and were technically superior in many areas of the game.

With youth in the form of Simon Threlfall and Peter MacNamara and experience in the guise of Arthur Smith, Bob Forderman and Peter Craven, there was an ideal gel of young and old.

The tries came fast and furious for Yarnbury through Nelson Preston (two), Simon Threlfall (two), Peter MacNamara (two), Peter Craven, Steff Patterson, Neil Pennington, Jez Mannion and the highlight being a brace of touchdowns for Bob Forderman, who crossed for two from prop at the tender old age of 45 - surely a player of the future! Kris Lilley added six conversions.

On Saturday the Hornets entertain Old Crossleyans in what the Hornets are sure will be a much tougher encounter.

Yarnbury U-9s..........55

Baildon U-9s............20

In atrocious weather conditions Yarnbury and Baildon elected to play one game of three periods. Yarnbury then set about putting together probably the best all-round team performance of the season with all players excelling in their positions.

Tries were scored by Elliot Kay (two), Lewis Cooper (two), Craig Barker, Adam Cullingworth, Ben Hague, Thomas Phelps, Michael Everson, Andrew James and Daniel Stephens, all got one try apiece.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.