St Marys 10 pts Yatton 6 pts - YATTON'S hopes of securing two vitally needed league points from this clash with bottom of the table St Marys evaporated in the 70th minute with the home side s second try.

St Marys 10 pts

Yatton 6 pts

YATTON'S hopes of securing two vitally needed league points from this clash with bottom of the table St Marys evaporated in the 70th minute with the home side's second try.

For the first quarter Mary's rumbling pack had most of the territorial advantage and if their backline had been on form, a cricket score could have been on the cards.

But it was injury strewn Yatton who were first on the board, from a rare excursion up field, minutes after key position No8 Ian Spillar had to leave with a damaged knee. George Osborne's penalty conversion was the only result of the first half.

Straight from the second half kick-off, Marys were winning the hard fought inches on Yatton's try line. A clearance kick was secured in the line-out and more pick and drives resulted in Yatton's coach of last season, grounding the ball.

The points from Mark Gabey's try were quickly overtaken by Osborne's second penalty almost straight from the restart. But Yatton only led by one slender point.

During the last half-hour, Mary's confidence and unity increased with wheeled scrums disrupting the opposition. Yatton, starved of any meaningful ball, found themselves once again under the cosh on their try line. More pick and drive tactics paid dividends and hooker Marcus Jenkins was adjudged to have grounded the ball.

Yatton's desperate attack in response came to nothing and Marys rifled the ball back down to the opposite end of the field, and managed to keep it there.

This Saturday Yatton 1st XV host undefeated professional Hartpury College. The 2nd XV travel to Gordano.

On Sunday, the Colts are scheduled for a friendly against Chew Valley. The Under-17s meet Bristol at home, likewise the Under-15s entertain Cotham Park and also the Under-13s against St Marys. All the junior sides are away to Winscombe.

BRISTOL Rugby player Lee Robinson put Yatton Under-17s through their paces at a special two-hour training session.

Lee, who is sponsored by Paul Cridland and Nick Michael from Bristol accountancy firm Elliott Bunker Ltd, Chartered Accountants, trained the team's 30 players.

Paul Cridland, a local resident and Director of Elliott Bunker, said: "My family and I are avid rugby fans so we are proud to sponsor Lee, but also as a company we also feel it's important to support local organisations.

We asked Lee if he would be able to pass on his expert knowledge to our local Under-17s side and we are delighted that he was able to do so. The team thoroughly enjoyed the training session and I am sure they will be able to put what they learnt into practice next time they play.