Match Report: Yarnbury 3 v Kestrels

Yarnbury 28 - 90 Cleckheaton Kestrels

A 13 try romp saw the Kestrels fly past Yarnbury, though the home side were the first to score, taking a 7-0 lead in the first 5 minutes.

Cleckheaton hit back when captain, Steve Noble, went in and Ben Dearing converted to level the scores. Cleckheaton kept up the momentum and a break from Lewis Beasty at the back of a line out led to Richard Noble completing a long range try. Dearing again converted. Cleck's 3rd try was another excellent long range effort, starting with a break from Gus Milborne deep in his own territory, he passed to Danny Booth who advanced the ball before putting Ed Curley away to finish a great move. Booth then went in for a try of his own from 50m out. Dearing converted both. Cleckheaton were well in front at 28-7 but there was much more to come.

Lewis Beasty made another break from his own half before feeding Richard Noble, for the centre to claim his second. Archie Rika-Rayne got the first of his hat-trick and the first for the forwards when he went in off a short pass from Chris Piper. Will Denham wrong footed the opposition by puling his shirt down as a pass came his way, with the defender fixated on this, Denham shuffled past him for Cleckheaton's 7th try of the half. Dearing converted all but one as the scoreboard advanced to 47-7. Yarnbury got some consolation when the defence parted like the Red Sea and the home side's scrum half darted over. But it was Cleckheaton who would trouble the scoreboard last in the half when Rika-Rayne got his second to bring the score to 52-14.

The second half started with Liam Wright scoring with his first touch. The big centre caught the ball and drove through 3 or 4 defenders to cross the whitewash. He pulled a fetlock in the process and had to leave the field after only being on for 3 minutes. Nevertheless if he could score at the rate of 1.65 points per minute throughout the season everyone will be pretty happy. Jarrad Toulson converted. Yarnbury got an interception try before Keiron Baldry crossed for Cleckheaton's 10th of the afternoon, with Toulson adding the extras again. Yarnbury got their final try with 15 mins to go but Cleckheaton added another 3 to their already mammoth total with Phil Newlad getting over before Steve Noble went in for his second and Archie Rika-Rayne concluded proceedings with his hat-trick try. Jarrad Toulson converting all of them.

This was a superb opening day for the Kestrels who face Old Brods next Saturday at Moorend. So if you are not making the trip up to Newcastle, please come down to the club and cheer on the 2's.