Fantastic display as YM chalk great win

Brid scored another converted try by winger Davies to go 14-3 up and it looked ominous for YM.

Stead had a chance reduce the deficit with a long-range penalty but his effort fell short and wide.

However, the YM were now in the ascendancy and applying strong pressure to the Brid line, being a little unlucky not to get a penalty try as a scrum was reset four times, Lumb controlling the ball.

A further penalty was awarded, however, and again the YM elected for the scrum. On this occasion it was reset three times before the referee finally awarded a penalty try, bringing it back to 14-10 in favour of the visitors.

Things got better for the YM when winger Burns-Smith collected the ball well inside his own half before slicing through the defence before Bulloch and Morton combined for the latter to score under the posts.

Stead’s conversion gave YM a 17-14 half-time lead. As the second half got under way, a melee resulted in a visiting prop being red-carded.

Play became locked in the middle of the pitch, although a Stead penalty edged them further ahead at 20-14.

Brid fought back strongly but magnificent tackling displays kept them at bay, with particular mention for Sam Hodge, Stu Dyke and Ben Hill, who put their bodies on the line time and again. Unfortunately it was not quite enough as, eventually, the visitors’ pack managed to force their way over from close range with prop Nepia claiming the score.

Mellonby again added the extras to put the lead back in Brid hands with little time left on the clock.

The YM made one last effort to force their way back upfield and as they were camped on the visitors’ 22 the referee adjudged Brid to have offended at the ruck and awarded a penalty which Stead converted to regain the lead.

Brid tried to come back from the restart but, bizarrely, with time having run out, their scrum half hoofed the ball out of play to bring an end to the game in the belief his team were winning!

YMCA; Morton, Wedderburn, Bulloch, Stead, Burns-Smith, Wood, Bradley, Dyke, Hill, Slater, Housley, Garside, Hodge, Perfitt, Lumb. Interchange: Dyson, Scholes, Cotton.