YARNBURY made their longest away trip of the league season as they headed to Leyburn to take on Yorkshire Two newcomers Wensleydale, and came away with just a point in a thrilling 47-37 defeat.

Playing into a fierce wind early on, Yarnbury found themselves two tries down after 20 minutes, before storming back to lead at the break.

But Wensleydale ran riot in the second half, with a late try denying the visitors the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Player-coach Tom Gilchrist, suffering from influenza, was among those missing for Yarnbury and that seemed to affect them early on against a rampant home forward line.

Home centre Jack Lawson scored out on the left, before number eight Rob Stanwix crashed over close in.

Stand off Jack Reynard converted one of those tries to open up a 12-point lead but the makeshift Horsforth side came back with a bang.

Left wing Josh Bell fooled the defence to score out wide before full back Josh Bateson got a second. Both went unconverted into the wind.

Bell then scored close in, with Daniel Pound converting, before a sweeping move saw them cut down the middle for winger Tom Bowman to score the bonus point try, which went unconverted.

Reynard reduced the arrears with a penalty before the break and the second half was played without the advantage of the gale for Yarnbury.

As the pack tired from their efforts, Wensleydale took advantage, scoring early tries through Stanwix, Lawson and lively scrum half Mark Dixon.

Pound kept Yarnbury in touch with a penalty but Wensleydale soon replied with one of their own, before Stanwix got his hat-trick.

Yarnbury hit back with tries from Ian Maycock and replacement captain James White. Pound converted both, but it proved to be in vain, as Dixon’s try at the death ensured the visitors came away with only one point.