Yatton make fit college side work for the win

HARTPURY COLLEGE 44 YATTON 1st XV 3

YATTON travelled for the first time to Hartpury College and admired the obvious, but soulless, facilities – emerging up the tunnel from a surprisingly cramped visitors' changing room.

Kicking off, Yatton's wake-up call came within the first two minutes as the home side immediately ran against them and cut through unaware defenders to touch down the opening try.

But Yatton regrouped and withheld constant onslaughts for the next half-hour until the fit Hartpury scrum grounded the ball from five yards.

The visitors were wily and kept the rigid opposition guessing. Sam Osborne's penalty from near halfway bisected the uprights, bringing the score to 10-3.

As the sky blackened in the distant Severn Valley horizon, Hartpury ran in another try five minutes before half-time.

Cruelly, in first-half injury time and under pressure, Yatton, having won a crucial scrum against the head, had a clearance kick charged down, which was gathered and grounded.

Within the first four minutes of the second period, as the heavy skies threatened, another pounding scrum at the tryline succeeded for the home side. Wind-assisted, the conversion added the extra points.

The pace of the game tested fitness all round and the visitors attempted to meet the ferocity of play at rucks and mauls.

Wind and driving rain into the faces of struggling Yatton only seemed to make them more resolute. Frustration was shown on some of the home side faces during what they expected to be a total walkover in the second half, but it was not.

By the end of the game two more converted tries and a penalty were little to show for the obvious advantages held by the top-of-the-table side which, no doubt, was pondered upon when Hartpury returned to their bench presses and treadmills on Monday and the Yatton boys to their jobs.

On Saturday, Yatton 3rd XV are at home to Imperial 2nd XV, kick-off 2.15pm, before hosting Weston Hornets in the Somerset Cup at 2pm on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, the under-17s are away to Bristol, the under-15s visit Harlequins and the Minis and Midis entertain Bristol Saracens during the morning.