THERE was a first for Yarnbury, as they hosted North Yorkshire neighbours Ripon on their all-weather synthetic pitch under floodlights, winning 34-23 in a gripping Yorkshire Two clash.

Yarnbury have had a close relationship with Ripon over many years, so this was the perfect occasion to try something new.

Judging by the interest in the floodlit facility, this could become a more regular feature for league games in the future.

Yarnbury, improving week by week with their young side, were challenged hard by Ripon, but held them off comfortably enough to record their first league win of the season.

All games between the pair have been competitive in the last few years, with the home side usually in the ascendancy.

Yarnbury captain James White started this one on the bench, with George Oldridge in the centre. The rest of the team stayed the same as the previous week.

The same problems persisted though, with Yarnbury giving away too many penalties, and Ripon were soon ahead 6-0 after conversions by opposing full back Ollie Graham.

Yarnbury took the game to Ripon and got their backs working after 15 minutes, bursting in to life through stand off Danny Pound.

Firstly, they made yards in centre field with back row Tom Goldthorpe and Craig Barker, before the ball was swept wide to the left for prop Lewis Atha to make the corner for the first try.

That was superbly converted by Pound to give Yarnbury a lead which they never lost.

Further tries followed in quick succession. Firstly, quick ball to the right side gave speedy winger Josh Bateson a try, which went unconverted.

A further try from a sweeping planned run around in the backs saw substitute centre James White score under the posts, with Pound converting to open up a 13 point gap.

That was reduced immediately by the opponents, due to Yarnbury being penalised in their own half for being offside at a ruck.

Flanker Tom Graham made the line after several forward runs from close in, but then an Oldridge penalty made the half-time score 22-11 to the home side.

Yarnbury went further ahead after the break when Bateson took a wayward kick and burst through the line for a 50 metre run in to the posts.

That was converted by Oldridge to give the home side daylight through their intense and speedy rugby.

Again,Yarnbury gave away penalties, for hands in the ruck according to referee Graham Smith, and Ripon capitalised with a try from Graham after the Ripon pack attacked the home line. The conversion was missed though.

A fifth try for Yarnbury gave winger Bateson his hat-trick on the right after good hands from the backs, before Ripon went over at the last for a converted consolation try.

Yarnbury are growing in confidence as a side but will need experience to help them along next week as they travel to South Yorkshire to face off against Wath.