Middlesbrough 10 Yarnbury 5

YARNBURY are coming to the end of a season of consolidation in Yorkshire League One and Saturday's match saw them defeated on their first visit to Middlesbrough.

The Horsforth side had flankers Joe Bennett and Andy Can Hell back alongside Jimmy Cryan who moved to No 8 in the absence of injured James Barrett. Captain Oliver Cashman returned at scrum half with Connor Moreton to stand off .

Eddie Van Heel was back at inside centre alongside Yorkshire Colts player Jonny Giles who retained his place. Jarrod Huss slotted in at full back.

Middlesbrough's clubhouse was full of memorabilia from their illustrious past and their players were determined to avenge the heavy defeat they suffered at Brownberrie Lane.

Yarnbury got off to a great start when Huss kicked a penalty onto the corner to force an attacking line-out. Henry Griffiths rose for the line out and the pack drove Middlesbrough out of the way and for Cryan to score an unconverted try.

The home side replied with a sustained period of play and moved the ball well. Their backs kept probing away for a weakness in the Yarnbury defence before finding a gap out wide for winger Jack Bircham to score and make it 5-5.

Middlesbrough centre Michael Thorburn was sin-binned for a high tackle on Giles while Cashman was also yellow carded for a technical infringement, as play became scrappy.

Yarnbury started the second half well with winger Ellis Gomersall twice going close and Giles making a nice half break. Both sides seemed happy to attack down the middle of the field. Yarnbury centre Eddie Van Heel tried to break the home defence without success.

The winning score came when Middlesbrough broke down the field and right winger Connor Foley was given the overlap to touch down in the corner.

Yarnbury had good pressure in the last quarter and were held out well until the final play after winning several penalties.

Their big chance came when they opted for a scrum close to the line. They secured possession and put winger Gomersall away for the touchdown which would have made a deserved draw but the linesman ruled he had put his foot in touch.

Yarnbury remain in a creditable fifth place with the bonus point for losing by less than seven points.