Old Yardleians 3rds 24 - 59 Hereford Development XV
On a hot September day Old Yardleians' aging 3rd XV took a fixture at short notice against Hereford's Development XV. With the weather suiting the younger, faster visitors it was always going to be a difficult game for Yards. Early on Dean Smith missed touch with a penalty kick and Hereford ran the ball 75 yards to score a converted try. Five minutes later poor Yards tackling let in another try and it was 14-0. The Yards pack responded with strong scrummaging taking one against the head and then a number of forward drives leading to gaps out wide that saw winger Martin Cartwright go over in the corner for a score. After 30 minutes Hereford scored again making it 19-5 as the game approached the break. Then Marcus Hope who dominated the lineout all game won another and the Yards pack rumbled on. Ten yards from the Hereford line Mark Baldwin took control of the ball at the back of the maul. As the pack drove towards the line Baldwin dived over to score supported by Marcus Hope. The Yards try was disallowed. Instead the ref gave possession to Hereford who scored their fourth try. This was the turning point of the game for a tired Yardleian team as they went into half time 26-5 down. During the break Yards brought on some fresh legs including 59 year old Steve Sidwell, Hereford continued to out run the home team to score more tries. Frustration crept in and at one stage Gary Robinson was marched back twenty yards as he chatted with the referee. Despite the heat Yards also scored tries of their own in the second half from Egg Male, the ever impressive Phil Evans and Gary Robinson with one of his typical thundering runs, Going forward Old Yardleians 3rd XV look to returning to proper 3rd XV fixtures.