Our season will start in Round 10 – Stirling
YORKSHIRE Carnegie put their league woe to one side to run out comfortable winners over Nottingham by six tries to three.
It was a dominating display from start to finish for the home side and Yorkshire director of rugby Chris Stirling thinks his team sent a message to the rest of the clubs in the competition.
“We put a little bit of a statement out there but we’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “We’re still missing some key players but we’re stepping in the right direction at least.
“After the Coventry game, although I was relatively pleased with aspects of it, I said we’re drawing a line under that.
“Now we can start building for a new season that starts in Round 10 of the Championship.”
There were a lot of changes in the Nottingham starting line up and debut try-scorer Harry Graham was disappointed with the result, despite his own impressive performance.
He said: “I’m pretty gutted, we weren’t physical enough today and especially in the first half we really struggled but we’ve got to do better next week.”
He added: “It was good to get off the mark with a try but as I said, it’s about the team and making sure that we put the work in next week and come out fighting on Friday.”
Yorkshire got off to the best possible start with a try in the opening five minutes through Kieran Frost. After Peter Lucock’s line break, Carnegie worked the ball out to the right wing where Frost crossed the try line unchallenged.
Nottingham didn’t have to wait too long to tie the game. Will Millett’s try came after a number of phases in front of the Carnegie’s posts. The defence was drawn in and Millett found a gap between two defenders to score.
Jacob Umaga, the nephew of All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, scored on his debut for Yorkshire Carnegie after a beautiful passing display.
As the ball was going out to the left-hand side, a lovely inside pass from Joe
Buckle sliced open the Nottingham defence and Umaga gratefully received the ball to cross the try line.
Carnegie seemed rejuvenated by their new signings as Umaga and Te Rure were pulling the strings. Two tries in as many minutes just before half-time from Antonio Kiri Kiri and Dan Temm gave Carnegie a solid 24-7 lead at the break.
Yorkshire once again started the half quickly and they blitzed the visitors with two more tries early on through debutant Tom Hill and Kiri Kiri once more.
Both tries were converted by Te Rure and Carnegie were firmly in control at 38-7.
Millett scored his second try when he broke through the Carnegie defence and showed a great turn of speed to race away from the chasing defenders.
A consolation try in the final minute of the game for Nottingham debutant Harry Graham ended proceedings.
Carnegie are at Coventry next week, while Nottingham host Doncaster.