Yarnbury Seconds 25, Wharfedale Thirds 23

SEEMINGLY in keeping with every other county and local cup final this season, this Spray Plant (UK)-backed Aire-Wharfe Plate decider went to the wire.

Played on Yarnbury's second-team pitch under floodlights on a night that became increasingly cold, the hosts won with a penalty kicked by fly half Danny Pound three minutes into injury time.

Yarnbury, who had first use of the diagonal breeze, led 22-7 at half-time but were slowly reeled in by the Greens' development side until a second try for lock James Ardron in the 70th minute put the visitors ahead for the first time.

However, they paid the penalty for blowing three decent opportunities early in the second half and the 79th-minute dismissal of Yarnbury scrum half Nathan Benton for a head-butt – Nathan Rogers of Wharfedale was sin-binned at the same time for offside – came too late to affect the outcome.

Wharfedale full back Harry Catley had the first attempt on goal after nine minutes but pushed his effort wide, although Yarnbury – in their bright pink shirts – had the opening attack of note when Ian Spink broke down the middle and passed to centre Graham Maycock, whose offload did not go to hand.

Home pressure told, however, when left winger Adam Roebuck scored in the 17th minute as lock Russ Gomersall continued to be prominent.

That was the start of three tries in nine minutes as Spink, from Maycock's break, and flanker Alex Crowther followed him to the whitewash, Pound adding two conversions to make it 19-0 after 25 minutes.

He also landed a penalty on the half-hour mark and Wharfedale needed something to happen before half-time. Winger Ralph Wellock proved the catalyst and Ardron made the line in the 36th minute, Catley converting.

But the visitors were held back by a lost line-out, conceding possession on a forward drive and a knock-on in the opening ten minutes of the second half.

The sin-binning of Tom Wareing proved a minor hindrance though as replacement centre Simon Crabtree and Ardron scored tries, Catley adding two penalties, before Pound stole it for Yarnbury with that late penalty.

Yarnbury No 8 Tom Fox was also yellow-carded in the 62nd minute.