Otley Colts 5
Yarnbury Colts 10

Each team knowing that failure would mean exit from the last Yorkshire competition and seriously denting, if not destroying, any chance of the league title.

Warming up on the first team pitch, it was noticeable that Otley had opted for a big strong pack giving rise to the conclusion that they intended to bully Yarnbury up front and release their backs who had shown in previous encounters that they could score the length of the feild if left unapposed, this was not to be the case.

From the atmosphere in the changeing room to their stern faced entry onto the field, Yarnbury looked more the team hungry for success and showed in the first ten minutes that it would take more than size to demoralise the Yarnbury pack. After holding posession well for the first period drivng the Otley pack back towards their own try line, as the whistle broke Yarnburys stride, the Otley team looked devastated with four of their players down requiring assistance.

The Yarnbury defense in the first half was the best that had been seen all season and when the forwards weren't required in this role, the backs stepped up ably to the fore with no chance for the opposition to threaten the line. Lineout was working well as usual with Brown taking his fair share of opposition ball and the pack as a whole dominated the scrum taking three against the head on the day.

Captain Elliott Cochrane controlled the Yarnbury pack exceptionally well in front of the very partisan and quite large Otley contingent being ably supported by all the forwards used on the day.

Missing Arnold, Howarth, Robinson and Kearsley, four players from last weeks starting line up and playing into the wind, Joe Langan took hold of the backs from Number 10 leading from the front in defence and shipping great ball through the backs to surge into Otley territory on numerous occassions stopped only by an ever tiring Otley defence which remained stubborn and up to the first half whistle with the score at 0-0.

Yarnbury came out for the second half looking fresher and hungrier than the Otley side and completely dominated proceedings for the rest of the game. With surgeing runs from Bailor and Avison in the centres and deep threatening runs from Emsley at full back the ever resilient back row of Cochrane, Liddle, Thorpe and Love stopped any of Otleys attempts to play round the fringes.

Otley looked demoralised and bewildered. After further pressure pushing Otley back to their 10m line the forwards provided quick ball to the backs with Cochrane running in support taking the pass and with a switch pop to Avison, the strong running centre showed the Otley defense his heels scoring under the posts.

Converting his own try Avison took the score to 7-0.

The rest of the game was dominated by Yarnbury with further scores only being prevented by the remenants of Otleys defense and some unfortuante handling misdemenours.

Avison slotted over a 3 pointer just before the end with Otley scoring a consollation try through one of their props from a metre out, the try being unconverted. This missed kick was the last play of the game Yarnbury winning 10-5 on the day with both supporters and team alike drowning out the home crowd with their cheers of victory in a hard fought tactical battle won through sheer determination and pure hard work. Yarnbury have an exceptional defensive record this season whcih in effect decided this hard tie having only let in 46 points in their 9 league games with a total conceded of 107 over the 17 games played this season.

Mention of all the squad must be made so congratulations also to Wilton, Dexter (sadly lost to knee ligament damage 2nd half) Peel, Senior, Barker, Smith A, Smith D, Bowman, Turpin, Spencer, and although not used on the day, Yarnbury welcomed back Matty Pearce from injury.

Yarnbury now look to face Huddersfield YMCA in the semi final on April 20th (venue to be announced).