On a glorious February morning Yatwell travelled to Avonmouth to face a developing side who were competitive to the very end but who were unable to cope with the speed and support play that Yatwell brought to the match.

Yatwell went on the attack from the very start with inside centre Charlie Hayett securing the ball from the Yatwell kick-off and from the subsequent ruck, fly-half Jimmy Jackson Patel shot round the blind side through a gap and the opening score. A couple of minutes later and some fantastic inter-play, a well taken cross field kick and a quick ruck ball on the 5m line saw prop Phil Clarke gather from the base of the breakdown and pop through a gap and run round to score under the posts. 

Avonmouth attacked from the re-start with good short pops to players on the charge but Yatwell’s defence was solid and a great counter-ruck enabled them to steal the ball at a breakdown and take it back to their hosts. A trademark break out run from centre Ned Hill took play well past the Avonmouth 10m line, a dominant scrum released Hayett on a change of angle up the blind sided and then a quick ruck saw the ball popped up to Clarke as he thundered through the defence to add his second. 

Avonmouth went back on the attack but when they were turned over at a ruck, Hill made another terrific break and when stopped near the 22m line he was able to off-load to Clarke who juggled the ball and then stepped the defender to score again. Avonmouth again restarted well with some powerful run but another great turnover allowed Yatwell to mount another attack. Some terrific handling moved the ball wide to winger Mo Sayce who tore down the wing only to be stopped just short. Yatwell were forced backwards outside the 22m but when they ripped the ball out of the contact it was passed to Hill who charged through the defenders to score. Back on the attack, and from a dominant Yatwell scrum the ball was moved wide to Sayce just outside the 22m line. He sprinted towards the line and looked to be stopped just short but was able to power through a tackle and keep his momentum going to reach the line for the final score of the half to make it Yatwell 36 Avonmouth 0

Into the second half and when an Avonmouth cross field kick bounced into touch Yatwell took a quick line-out to Jackson-Patel and with the Avonmouth yet to get ready he found a line round the outside to score. From the kick-off Yatwell moved the ball wide from one side of the field to the other before moving back the other way releasing Hill down through the centre. A pass out of the tackle was secured and popped out to  second row Ivor Malone who sprinted round the outside and forced his way through the final contact to score. 

A deep re-start was run back at Avonmouth who made the tackle on the 22m line but a quick ball off the ruck to Clarke saw him split the defence and then step the final defender to add another. 

On the attack again from the kick-off and a lovely long miss pass out to Sayce was off-loaded to flanker Calum Pegler who carried it towards the line before off-loading to Clarke for another. 

The next score came off of a good ruck with the ball passed to Hayett near the 10m line and he had the speed, the hand-off and the footwork to find a way through to the line. Prop Scott Waters was the next up to show his strength and speed as he carried the ball deep into the Avonmouth half. A quick pick and go by scrum half Jack Carter was stopped just short but a quick popped ball to Clarke saw him power over for another.  

The next try should have been by Avonmouth. Some strong running, a couple of infringements at the breakdown by Yatwell and Avonmouth had a line-out 20m out. A lovely break was stopped just short of the line where Yatwell stole the ball again and went on the counter-attack but a loose pass gifted the ball back to Avonmouth and there was then some really great contested rugby in the middle ground by both sides. Eventually good pressure by Yatwell at an Avonmouth line-out saw No. 8 Isaac Dahmani clear out a ruck to release a ball that was quickly moved wide to Hill out on the wing and he rounded the defenders to score under the posts. With the final play of the game a couple of quick ruck balls saw Malone again speeding down the outside and when he was stopped just short Carter was on hand and this time he was able to finish off the move with a try of his own to make it Yatwell 83 – Avonmouth 0

Tries: Phil Clarke 5, Ned Hill 2; Jimmy Jackson-Patel 2; Jack Carter 1; Charlie Hayett 1; Ivor Malone 1; Mo Sayce 1

Conversions: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 8; Isaac Dahmani 1

Yatwell travelled up the road to Clevedon with only fourteen players for what is always a competitive local derby and today’s highly entertaining fixture was no different. With a new squad member and a number of players covering new positions it was always going to be tough going against a Clevedon side with a great combination of size and speed but Yatwell acquitted themselves magnificently right to the very end

From the kick-off Yatwell immediately ran back at their hosts and great early pressure saw a chargedown by fly-half Charlie Hayett which nearly opened Yatwell’s account in the opening minutes. Clevedon’s response was immediate and as happened on a number of times throughout the game they were able to get it to one of their fast players who made 40-50m straight back up the pitch. Yatwell defence was excellent in the close quarters however holding a driving maul up over the line and then Yatwell went back on the attack. Firstly through fullback Jimmy Jackson-Patel who played his match of the season and then through winger Tyler Meekhums who was barrelled into touch just outside the twenty-two. A great clearance kick sent the ball back up field where Yatwell gathered and attacked again. 

The opening ten minutes was breathless stuff but another 45m break by Clevedon took them just short and then quick ball out wide saw them score in the corner. From the re-start a deep clearance kick back into Yatwell’s half was again returned with some interest and great pressure on the Clevedon backs secured a knock-on scrum. This time it was Yatwell who moved the ball wide to release inside centre Jack Carter to go over in the corner. The next two scores were by Clevedon as again their quick runners were allowed to make tens of metres putting Yatwell on the back foot before Yatwell scored on the stroke of half-time. A fantastic breakout by Hayett saw him almost go the length of the pitch and a couple of plays later a great ball from the ruck was popped up to charging prop Phil Clarke who burst through a gap on the twenty-two to score under the posts so at the break it was Yatwell 12 Clevedon 19

Into the second half and the frantic pace of the end-to-end play picked right up from where it left off. Yatwell piled on the pressure with a quick tap penalty deep in Clevedon territory but Clevedon regained possession and yet again their winger made a significant break taking it back into the Yatwell half. A penalty just short of the line was then quickly moved wide and Clevedon added their third try. The next score took nearly twenty minutes as both sides continued to play fantastically competitive rugby with newcomer Ally Shields having a brilliant debut. 

Finally, a tremendous break by the ever -rampaging no. 8 Ned Hill took Yatwell back up the pitch and when a terrific driving line-out was stopped just short the ball was gathered by Hill and he dove over in the corner. Straight from the re-start and Yatwell were back at it again. This time quick ball from the ruck just inside their own 10m line was passed to Jackson-Patel who had the speed and the footwork to go the 60m and score in the corner to make it Yatwell 22 Clevedon 26 and set up a fascinating battle for the last five minutes. By now, however Yatwell were running on empty and when they conceded a penalty for side entry into a maul 5m out they just couldn’t get the numbers across in defence to halt the quick tap which saw Clevedon go over in the corner. From the kick-off Clevedon made another 50m break and quick ball from the ruck saw Clevedon’s winger go over in the other corner. The re-start was the final play of the game and although Yatwell went straight back at their hosts playing to the very end Clevedon kept the ball secure and the game finished Yatwell 22 Clevedon 40

Tries: Jack Carter 1; Phil Clarke 1; Ned Hill 1; Jimmy Jackson-Patel 1

Conversions: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 1

On a beautifully sunny February morning Yatwell hosted a big, strong and very competitive Midsomer Norton and both teams put on a thoroughly entertaining display of rugby that kept the supporting crowd enthralled right to the very end

From the very start Midsomer Norton drove Yatwell back into their own half applying huge pressure at the breakdown and on the defensive line. Yatwell though held firm throughout with some fantastic defensive tackling along with tremendous work at the breakdown and in the set piece to ensure they held their guests out. On more than one occasion Midsomer Norton looked to be withing striking range but efforts were stopped time and again. Yatwell didn’t get out of their own half at all for nearly twenty minutes but having soaked up everything their guests had to give them they finally cleared their lies and went on the attack. A well secured breakdown near the centre of the pitch saw the ball passed wide to winger Mo Sayce who had the speed to tear down the outside past all the defenders and score under the posts. Ten minutes later and Yatwell were back on the attack and inside the Midsomer Norton twenty-two. Again, some great work at the breakdown saw the ball secured and moved wide, this time to the other winger Tyler Meekhums who had the pace to go over in the corner and at the break it was Yatwell 12 Midsomer Norton 0

Into the second half and Yatwell were straight back on the attack. A tremendous run by inside centre Charlie Hayett was stopped pretty much on the line with Midsomer Norton then knocking it on. Yatwell’s scrum, which was magnificent all game despite a number of significant size differences, secured their own ball and Yatwell went on the attack again. Good pressure from Midsomer Norton saw them flatten Yatwell in the middle of the pitch but the ball was quickly recovered and moved wide finding it’s way to Sayce who scorched over for his second. With three tries in the bag it looked to be going well for Yatwell despite the pressure they were under and then suddenly Midsomer Norton went up a gear. Some fairly basic handling errors created a bit of panic as Yatwell were driven backwards and all of the momentum shifted to Midsomer Norton as they scored their first of three tries in a ten-minute period that took the score line to Yatwell 19 Midsomer Norton 17. With a little over ten minutes left to play Yatwell had to re-group and from the re-start they went again as both sides attacked and defended in equal measure. Five minutes later a terrific surge up the hill by Yatwell saw the ball passed to Hayett who barged his way through the defence to go over in the corner. For the final few minutes Midsomer Norton were back on the attack but Yatwell held firm, winning their own ball back at the scrums and the breakdowns and securing enough possession to keep their guests at bay with the final score Yatwell 24 Midsomer Norton 17

There were any number of excellent performances throughout the Yatwell team but the defence of fullback Tyler King was magnificent and Charlie Hayett had his best game of the season with an outstanding work rate in both attack and defence

Tries: Mo Sayce 2; Charlie Hayett 1; Tyler Meekhums 1

Conversions: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 2

On a wet and cold January morning Yatwell travelled to Winscombe for the second time this season and once again both teams put on a terrifically hard fought and well contested game of rugby that could have gone either way right up until the final whistle

It was clear from the first kick-off that Winscombe had considerable strength across the team with some big ball carriers and some fast runners and the opening minutes saw them exert a huge amount of pressure on Yatwell driving them back towards their own goal line. Some tremendous defence especially the tackling of fullback Tyler King saw Winscombe held out and when the ball was lost forwards Yatwell gathered and took it straight back to their hosts. A good ruck and some quick hands saw the ball moved wide to inside centre Charlie Hayatt on the 22m line and he was able to sprint past the defenders and go the length of the pitch to open the scoring for Yatwell. 

Winscombe came straight back at Yatwell from the re-start and a great driving maul took them close but the ball was lost forward and Yatwell had a scrum 5m out. Unfortunately, Yatwell couldn’t control the ball as it came out and Winscombe were able to steal it back and ship it to their winger to score out wide. Yatwell gave away a penalty at the re-start which enabled Winscombe to break away again and a second penalty for a high tackle as the back row broke from a scrum gave Winscombe a 5 m line-out. Yatwell defended this brilliantly driving Winscombe back again and again in the close quarters but when Winscombe were awarded a scrum for a knock-on they changed tack, shpiiping the ball out to their winger who went over in the corner. Constant pressure from the re-start saw Yatwell camped firmly in the Winscombe half earning a couple of quickly taken penalties to keep them moving forwards. These along with some great recycling lead to a number of short pops off of rucks to strong ball carriers until eventually this pressure proved too much and a pick and go from the ruck saw No. 8 Ned Hill over under the posts. 

Yatwell were then undone at the re-start when they failed to secure the ball and whilst they won a scrum for a knock-on the momentum seemed to be back with Winscombe. A forward pass by Yatwell gave Winscombe an advantage as they pressed forwards and the speed of the recycle was just too quick for the Yatwell defence as Winscombe scored out wide again top make it Yatwell 14 Winscombe 19 at the end of the period

Yatwell began the next period with some tremendous pressure on Winscombe keeping them deep in their own half but time and again a final dropped pass or a knock on brought the play to a halt. Equally when Winscombe had the ball they also looked to play but with similar end results and it was probably the best part of a quarter of an hour of really entertaining and highly competitive play by both sides before a gap was finally found. A dominant Yatwell scrum, a pick and go from the base and then a pop to Hill playing out in the centre saw him cut his way through the defence to add his second. A fumbled re-start saw Yatwell place themselves under pressure again and when a penalty was given for going off their feet at the ruck Winscombe made no mistake. A quick tap saw the ball moved wide and with the Yatwell defence just too slow to cover the space Winscombe were over once more in the corner. Yatwell immediately took the play back to their hosts and the rest of the second period saw a number of great plays that were held up or driven out just short of the including the final attack which was ended by another knock-on so the score stood at Yatwell 21 Winscombe 26

Into the final period and it was all to play for. From the kick off Yatwell were all over Winscombe taking them back towards their 5m line. A lost ball at the ruck allowed Winscombe to clear their lines but an immediate run back saw winger Mo Sayce pick the ball up from his bootstraps to be stopped just short and then fly-half Jimmy Jackson Patel swooped to drive over and score in the corner. With the conversion missed the scores were now level and the passion and desire of the players from both sides was clear for all to see. With their tails up a cleanly caught re-start gave Yatwell immediate forward momentum and there was some lovely interplay between the players as they charged down the pitch. A Winscombe infringement at the ruck gave Yatwell a penalty on the 22m line in front of the posts and Jimmy Jackson-Patel coolly slotted the penalty to give Yawell the lead for the first time since their opening try. 

The next few minutes saw some frantic play by both sides, initially it was all in the centre of the pitch but gradually Winscombe started to creep forwards and despite their best efforts eventually Winscombe crossed the line and regained the lead with seven minutes left on the clock. The intensity of the last few minutes was incredible. Both sides attacked defended in equal measure and as time moved on it definitely looked like Yatwell were edging towards a final score. A couple of really dominant scrums saw Yatwell take two balls against the head which just added to their momentum but the final pick and go was stopped just short and another penalty for a double movement on the floor saw the opportunity lost. As the clock went red a successful Winscombe line-out was kicked out into touch and the game ended Yatwell 29 Winscombe 33

Tries: Ned Hill 2; Charlie Hayett 1; Jimmy Jackson-Patel 1

Conversions: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 3

Penalties: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 1

Yatwell hadn’t had a game since Dec 6th and given the recent biblical weather conditions that looked unlikely to change but at the very last minute the pitch was approved and what followed was a tremendous exhibition of rugby by two teams who had clearly waited a long time to get back out there and have some fun

The opening exchanges from the kick-off were like a snapshot of the game as a whole. A good catch from the restart by Yatwell was followed by running the ball into space, securing and releasing from a quick, well-formed ruck, straight running from strong ball carriers to generate good forward momentum and then some slick handling to keep the ball alive. North Petherton equally had their share of possession and their quick defensive pressure in particular produced a couple of Yatwell handling errors that allowed North Petherton to move the ball wide and at speed. 

After the first few frantic minutes the teams were back in the middle but a dominant scrum from Yatwell saw a pick and go from the base, a number of off-loads out of the tackle, a quick ruck and a lovely pop pass to prop Phil Clarke who was flat out when he took it and unstoppable from 5m

From the re-start a great catch and drive by 2nd row Seb Tarrent was again well secured at the ruck but a wayward pass forced by tremendous North Petherton pressure saw Yatwell defending under their own posts. A subsequent penalty was quickly taken by the guests catching Yatwell half asleep and suddenly the scores were level. 

A number of exchanges by either side ensued with Yatwell appearing to have the better of the possession until a well-placed kick deep into the Yatwell half was well gathered by North Petherton releasing their winger to race round the outside past the stretched Yatwell defence to add their second. Minutes later another dominant Yatwell scrum on the halfway line saw another pick and go with good support. The subsequent ruck 5m saw Hooker Alex Press scorching through on one side as a dummy runner as the ball was popped to Clarke tearing through on the other and with the broken defence Yatwell were back within two points. The final try of the half came from deep within the Yatwell 22m area. A great steal at the breakdown was followed by a really super floated pass out wide to winger Mo Sayce who had the speed and the footwork to go the length of the pitch and score under the posts. At half-time it was Yatwell 19 North Petherton 14

Into the second half and both teams were playing some really lovely rugby with charge and counter-charge as the possession moved from end to end and side to side and it was fantastic to watch. Both teams really looked to attack and North Petherton had a really intelligent kicking game as well which kept Yatwell on the back foot. What tended to be the downfall for each team’s attack however was the final pass and with Yatwell having the better at the scrummage and the breakdown it seemed to be only a matter of time before they secured another score. A line-out 20m out on one side of the pitch lead to a penalty 5m out on the other and when it was quickly taken, the drive by the Yatton pack was too much and Clarke was over for his third. Yatwell’s final try typified a lot of the great forward momentum that they had looked to generate throughout. 

A lovely catch from the re-start was run hard and fast by centre Charlie Hayett to gain good ground. A couple of quick rucks released their big ball carriers like No. 8 Isaac Dahmani to take on the North Petherton defence and then a lovely pass to back row forward Ned Hill, who was playing at centre and enjoying the space, saw him power through the remaining metres to score. North Petherton were by no means finished though and all of the action for the last few minutes was within the Yatwell 5m area but the Yatwell defence held firm and when they stole the ball out of contact that was the end with the final score Yatwell 31 North Petherton 14

Particular mention should go both to Calum Pegler and Matt Hill who played their first game today for Yatwell with both putting in a sterling performance and to Seb Tarrent who had his best game of the season

Tries: P. Clarke 3; Ned Hill 1; Mo Sayce 1

Conversions: Jimmy Jackson-Patel 3