JOSH Bateson scored a fine hat-trick of tries but Yarnbury suffered a heartbreaking defeat thanks to an 80th minute penalty from hosts Wetherby.

It was a seesaw game, which saw the lead changing hands several times, as both teams fought for prominence but never quite dominated.

The game started well for the Horsforth side, with a seventh minute try for speedy right winger Bateson.

Quick hands from the halfway line, started off by captain and centre James White, got Bateson on the ball at 22 metres and the winger squeezed in at the corner.

Stand off Danny Pound converted smartly from the touch line to open the scoring only for Wetherby to then score unopposed from a scrum.

Argentinian Fran Ortelli picked up and had a clear run to the try line, surprising the Yarnbury back row. Archie Youlden converted to draw the scores level.

Wetherby did not learn from Yarnbury's counter attacks though, as the visitors twice more found space out wide for Bateson to score tries in the 16th and 21st minute.

Unfortunately Pound could not convert either try but the double score left the away side with a ten point cushion.

Yarnbury then failed to heed the strong running of the Wetherby full back Myles Oates, who managed to get clear from the covering defence on 36 minutes to score on the left.

Youlden converted before levelling the scores with a penalty in the 39th minute, which was awarded for a collapsed scrum, leaving the scores locked at 17-17 at half time.

Yarnbury had a determined spell of pressure in the third quarter in the opponents half, when the home side could not break out of defence.

However, the Horsforth side could not add to the score and Wetherby added the next points.

Full back Oates was fed out blind and made it up the left for an opportunist unconverted try.

Yarnbury pressed in the final quarter but were well marshalled in the middle of the park by the Wetherby tacklers.

However, they managed to break out ten minutes from time and scrum half Cameron Newby finished off a slick passing move for Yarnbury’s fourth score.

That ensured a bonus point and it levelled the game at 22-22. Pound missed the resulting conversion though before Yarnbury lost second row Ian Maycock to injury.

Their dogged pack were then penalised at the last play following a collapsed scrum and Youlden converted the penalty to win the game.

Yarnbury were left contemplating what might have been, with two points instead of five to start their campaign.