Yarnbury 30 Malton and Norton 27

YARNBURY made a welcome return to form to topple promotion candidates Malton & Norton at Brownberrie Lane.

Yarnbury were challenging them in third place before Christmas but with injuries and a much-changed side they have slipped down to sixth spot. This result will boost their spirits.

Influential hooker Tom Gilchrist and centre Eddie Van Heel were missing from the team for a match where a minute’s silence was observed before kick off for Yarnbury stalwart Peter Greenwood who passed away the previous week.

In the true Greenwood tradition, Yarnbury’s forwards took the game to the opposition and their efforts were rewarded when second row Ian Maycock crashed over for a third-minute try.

Yarnbury attacked again from the restart but their followers were startled when Malton forced a turnover and left winger Tom Hewitt outflanked the cover to score in the corner.

He then repeated the dose from deep in his own 22 just minutes later as the visitors stole the lead.

Yarnbury hit back almost immediately when Malton were penalised for killing the ball on the ground and Carl Paterson kicked for the corner.

From the line-out Henry Griffiths secured clean ball and the Yarnbury pack drove over the line for Maycock to secure his brace of tries.

The forwards continued the good work. when a controlled drive resulted in a try for James Barrett after the visitors had been penalised for not releasing.

The backs were handling well throughout the half and Yorkshire Colt Jonny Giles made several half breaks and fitted in well at senior level.

The second half was just as exiting. After 45 minutes Yarnbury attacked the Malton line through the backs and winger Alex Clarke was stopped short.

The supporting forwards drove him over the line.

Referee Damian O’Hehr decided to award a penalty try under the posts for pulling down the ruck. Paterson added the conversion.

Yarnbury pressure resulted in a Paterson penalty stretching the lead to 25-10 before Malton’s No 8 Alistair Coe got a try back. Ian Cooke’s conversion further reduced the lead.

With Paterson limping off with an ankle injury, Yarnbury’s line kicking began to suffer and this allowed Malton to counter attack strongly.

John Dodgson came on at prop with Toby Brown taking over in the back row for the injured Greg Trencher.

Jarrod Huss slotted in at stand off for the final quarter and Yarnbury looked to have put the game out of sight when second row Henry Griffiths charged in from 15 yards.

Malton showed why they are second in the league as they rallied to outflank the Yarnbury defence twice in the last ten minutes with winger Hewitt scoring both to take his tally for the game to four.

Only a well-timed tackle from Ellis Gomersall denied him a fifth score as Yarnbury clung on to a win which lifts them to fourth place.