Yarnbury 0

Huddersfield YMCA 34

WELL, it wasn't to be. The dream that Yarnbury could bring home the Yorkshire Shield on their 125th anniversary was shattered by a Huddersfield pack of awesome strength and power.

Such was the dominance of the YM pack, in fact, throughout the 80 minutes of the game, that the defeat could and should have been much heavier.

As it was, the commitment, determination, perseverance and tenacity of the Yarnbury defence ensured that the Horsforth side finished the match with much pride and dignity.

A huge roar from their marvellous supporters welcomed the Horsforth boys as they strode purposefully on to the pitch. With adrenalin pumping and the clamour of the crowd making each and every one of them a few inches taller, the Yarnbury pack tore into their opposite numbers from the opening whistle.

Withstanding the initial fire though, YM slowly ground their way into Yarnbury territory through their strong pack and tested the defence of the Horsforth boys to the absolute limit.

That they could not breach that defence for some 25 minutes, despite having the lion's share of the possession, speaks volumes about the heart and passion of the Yarnbury players.

Time and again the YM attack was repulsed by a Yarnbury defence which was determined to fight tooth and nail for every inch of ground, every blade of grass.

The big hits came thick and fast. Bone-jarring, gain line tackling from the Yarnbury pack kept the YM forwards at bay, and when they did release the ball to their backs, their Yarnbury counterparts cut them down and were equal to the task.

Eventually, after what seemed an age, the YM pack sucked in sufficient defenders to create an overlap for their backs some 30 yards out.

Even then, when a try seemed a foregone conclusion, the Yarnbury defence screamed across to cut down the YM three-quarters. With literally inches to spare, YM's right-winger crashed over in the corner to give his side a 5-0 lead.

As the crowd volume rose, Yarnbury took the game back to YM and the scoreline stayed level until five minutes from the break.

Defending their own line at a scrum, the ball shot out of the back door and over the Yarnbury line.

Skipper and scrum-half Steve Lee, and his opposite number contested the loose ball over the Yarnbury try-line.

Unfortunately, the referee blew his whistle and raised his arm in favour of the Huddersfield man, awarding YM their second try.

At 10-0 down, Yarnbury found themselves under pressure once again on the stroke of half-time.

Having struggled in the scrum, on their own ball, the Horsforth pack of Craig Holgate (prop), Andy Rivett (hooker), Johnny Stephenson (prop), second rowers Steve Miller and Matthew Burton, flankers Wayne Butterfield and Martin Rivett, and number eight Mark Cooper, faced a YM scrum, five yards out, right in front of their own posts.

A third YM score, a pushover try, was surely on the cards, or so the huge crowd thought. They reckoned without the passion, commitment, and fight-till-the-death attitude of the Yarnbury pack, who stole the ball from the YM put in, and drove their pack backwards to allow Steve Lee to clear his lines.

Not enjoying some of their own medicine, a few YM tempers boled over, and the two teams came to blows as the half-time whistle sounded.

Having defended for practically 40 minutes, and at only 10-0 down, and having just won a huge psychological battle, the Yarnury boys turned round, battered and bruised, but with much hope for a second-half fightback.

Hope was short lived, however, when the YM pack, blatantly infringed at a Yarnbury line-out to win the ball, some five minutes into the second half.

As the Horsforth boys looked in bewilderment at the referee, play was allowed to continue and the YM number eight strolled in almost unopposed for the third try of the day.

Over the next 35 minutes, Huddersfield YM attacked, and attacked, and attacked the Yarnbury line.

Their dominance and retention of the ball was absolutely first-class, but then so was the Yarnbury defence.

When their forwards had given everything they had to give, the Yarnbury backs took over.

Skipper Steve Lee, fly-half Steve Galbraith, centres Mark Griffiths and Andy Marshall, wingers Paul Jones and Martin Johnston, and full-back Billy Thompson thundered into men twice their size, nailing everything that dared come near their line.

Club stalwart and talisman Paul Trigg entered the fray at prop, as did hardman Dave Roberts at second row. Immediately both made an impact with huge, thumping tackles. Phil Deacon at centre, Sean Craven the flying flanker and young hooker Paul Verity were also brought onto the pitch adding fresh legs and tenacity to the Yarnbury defence.

Unfortunately, YM's dominance was so complete that the Horsforth defence was twice breached, almost inevitably, by rolling mauls from their huge, powerful pack.

With the game lost, the Yarnbury boys did not give in, however, and fought their way back up the pitch.

Prop Craig Holgate initiated a move, which saw Steve Miller put winger Paul Jones on route to the YM line.

With a glimer of hope, the Yarnbury flyer very nearly gave the travelling crowd something to cheer about, but was bundled in to touch by the YM cover defence, less than a yard from his goal.

YM deservedly had the final word of the match with a score on the stroke of full-time, but even then, after 80 minutes of defensive work, always on the back foot, the game lads of Horsforth were still knocking down their attackers with some huge hits.

That they did not crumble in the face of such an onslaught is testament to their character, commitment and pride in their club.

When the final whistle sounded, and the YM supporters celebrated, the men of Yarnbury walked, and in some cases were carried, from the pitch with heads held high and dignity still intact.

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