Yorkshire 15 Cheshire 24 @ Keighley RUFC Sunday 7th December
The visitors took the honours in a hard-fought North selection game 4 tries to 3 played out in appalling wet and windy conditions.
Evens Stevens for large parts Yorkshire nudged an early 3-point lead with a penalty from flyhalf Jack Glandsfield but were pegged back to 3-7 at half time with a converted forwards try under the sticks by the visitors.
Pressing hard after the restart Yorkshire were undone against the run of play with an 80-metre interception try again under the posts.
The home forwards then worked furiously hard and within 5 minutes hooker Noah Glossop burrowed over for a converted try to make it 10-14. Followed shortly by a similar no 8 Evan Warren - Lambert try. This time with the conversion hitting the posts meant the hosts had a slender 15-14 advantage with 20 minutes to go.
The siege was, however, ended by two late Cheshire unconverted tries out wide in the last few minutes to make it 15 -24 at full time.
The visitors held on despite a late Yorkshire rally to win a very tough game in very tough conditions ...a great advert for North Development rugby in front of the selectors played in the right spirit by both sides.
Yorkshire travel undaunted to Cumbria on 21st December for their final divisional game at Penrith RUFC ...hopefully in improved weather just before Christmas ...who knows! The coach company providing snow ploughs maybe!!!
Congratulations to all players and coaches on the day ...thanks to the West Yorkshire officials who experienced the worst of the weather also.
Special thanks to Keighley for hosting and hospitality and a welcome clubhouse refuge for friends and family to dry out in.
Dave Oswin
Yorkshire U18s Team Manager
