Old Yardleians RFC: Club News
AND I RECKON 3/4 OF OUR TEAM AND SUPPORTERS COULDN'T BEAR TO LOOK
Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:23
Let's start with the match background.
The final of the Midlands Division of the RFU National Vase Competition with teams included from Shropshire to Bedfordshire, from Herefordshire to Staffs, was played for by what you can only say are the best two teams in that large geographical area. Previous clashes this season between the Ys and Harbury had resulted in one win each so it was fairly inevitable that both sides knew what to expect.
Conditions were not ideal for an open running game and as half time approached the heavans opened. Handling errors were plentiful and it was a credit to the teams that we had anything worthwhile to watch. The first half ended with Yards ahead 8-0 thanks to a try from Jimmy Hendrick and a successful kick from Jake. The second half started well for the home side who kicked three penalties, giving them a 9-8 lead which they kept, under the severest pressure, until the referee, who looked so young that we thought his mum had told him to come home for his tea, awarded a penalty to the Yards with the extra pressure on Jake as it was to be the last play of the game. Having missed from similar positions, there were those who couldn't watch, but Jake the ice-man bisected the posts for a win to the Yards by 11-9. Cue, time for celebrations. I feel a bit sorry for Harbury because they have given us three hard games this season and got nothing out of it except for a fair old profit over the bar. Good luck fellas as you strive for promotion and I suspect that promotion will come your way.
Next up is the national semi final on Easter Saturday 30th March away to Yorkshire to take on Baildon RFC with the winners of that game travelling to H.Q. for the final, and lets hope we don't emulate the form of the team that usually plays there !
Brilliant support from the many hundreds of Yards supporters who went to Harbury and it was good to see Mrs P. representing her husband, our president Steve, who was called up for Ireland in Rome. or was he in line for the Vatican job?
The only other weekend game for the club was a sunday morning trip to rural Herefordshire as our under 17s tackled Ledbury as well as some fascinating interpretations of the laws of the game. For once we even scored first and worked hard to gain a win by 14-5.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday 23rd March First XV v Coventrians League Away 3.00
Development XV v Halesonians Home 3.00
Vandals XV to be conffirmed
Sunday 24 th March Under 7 v Woodrush Home
Under 8 v Woodrush Home
Under 9 v Woodrush Away (B38 0EL)
Under 10 v Woodrush Away
Under 17 v Bridgnorth Away League 11.00
(Clubhouse is 'The Bull', Bridge Street, Bridgnorth WV15 5AA)