YMCA 52
Old Brodleians 3
(Yorkshire I)
YMCA produced another eight-try feast as derby rivals Old Brodleians were the latest side to face the new-look Laund Hill team.
It was expected to be a stern test for the home side as their rivals had recently been playing higher level rugby, but a confident YM brushed the challenge aside with a fine display.
The home side were on the board as early as the fourth minute after neat work put Josh Marshall in space on the wing and he sprinted past the cover before releasing Sam Hodge to go under the sticks, Gavin Stead adding the conversion.
YM’s defence, which had been a bit lacking in the first two games, showed the dividends for the hard work done in training as Brods’ efforts were quickly snuffed out.
The next breakthrough came from Stead who forced his way through a gap with Ed Barber in support, and he drew the cover before feeding Adam Ryder who powered over.
Brodleians got their only points when Mark Whitehead was pulled up for being offside, which was not for the first time or last time in the game before it dawned on referee Simon Park that the YM skipper really is that fast at the breakdown.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Brods however, as the YM pack drove the visitors back over their own line to leave Whitehead the simplest of scores.
Ryder then ripped the ball out of his opposite number’s grasp, and sprinted over the line for his second and the team’s fourth try.
Stead again converted to make 26-3 at the interval and the game was out of Brods’ reach early in the second half.
The inclusion of Damian Clayton at stand-off, working alongside Simon Wilson, has made a big difference to the running lines as Clayton is prepared to take the ball straight to the opposition before releasing it, leaving Barber the extra space to work with.
The Ryder and Barber partnership was evident again as the former broke away down the right wing, before off-loading to Barber to score, and another Ryder run set up the chance for Whitehead to score his second try of the day, Stead converting both, before leaving the field after a crunching tackle.
Brods then enjoyed their best period of the game, but found YM’s defence too tough a nut to crack, and when the hosts got their hands on the ball again, Barber’s burst and a sublime pass out of the tackle saw new full-back Matt Johnson grab his first try for the club, to which he also added his own conversion.
The final score of the game went to prop Stephen Dyke who was on hand to take a neat ball close to the ruck and score wide-out.
YMCA: Johnson, Marshall, Ryder, Barber, Stead; Clayton, Wilson; Dyke (Ste), Hill, Neilly, Lumb, Housley, Dyke (Stu), Hodge, Whitehead. Subs (all used) Bell, Wrafter, Morton.
