The Stags were back in action after the festive break looking to maintain that unbeaten run into 2020 and took the short trip up north to Yatton.

The Stags have had the better hand over Yatton in all three of last season’s fixtures plus the most recent back in September where Yatton conceded 45 points. Stags started the brighter side but it was clear to see that both teams were still working off the Christmas break with various handling errors and infringements at the breakdown. That said, The Stags made headway up the slope to put Yatton on the back foot. With quick ball be produced this allowed the backs to show what fire power & experience they had with Tim Piper scoring his thirteenth try of the season. A similar try was scored by winger Ryan Beard several minutes later, his nineteenth try of the season, to extend the lead as Piper converted 0-12.

With The Stags having the upper hand camped in the Yatton 22 area, Beard showed what he does best, powering through several defenders and crossed the white wash but was tackled high and the referee awarded a penalty try 0-19, just before half time.

It was now Yatton’s turn to play up the slope but The Stags momentum continued as Will Hopkins came at pace and received the ball at pace to waltzed his way through three Yatton defenders to score 0-24. Many would of expected an oppositions heads to drop, but not Yatton, as they began to retain the ball well and it was The Stags turn to be on the back foot. Yatton managed to break the ever reliant Stag defence twice in short succession to claw back 12 points. 12-24.

Yatton now had momentum and could sense that they could gain something out of this match as Second Row, Birkan Gunduz, was given a yellow for slam dunking a Yatton forward but a moment of madness came from their Physio. Stag Full Back, Alex Watkins, kicked from within his 22 area, the ball looked like it was leaving the field, but it did not, and the Yatton Physio caught the ball on the pitch. He soon realised, when the linesman (myself) didn’t flag that the ball had left the pitch, what mistake he had made. The referee awarded a penalty and Piper kicked for touch only 5m’s out from the Yatton try line. Yes, you guessed it, catch ‘n’ drive and with Piper entering the forwards, to bolster the driving maul, he managed to score his second try of the game.

With Yatton perplexed at their Physio’s antic’s, they continued to push The Stags all the way and they sure did by scoring another two tries but thankfully the 80th minute saved The Stags.

So, 2020 has started well for The Stags with 15 from 15 but it is a tough month ahead with away fixtures to second place Nailsea & Backwell and mid table Imperial which is always a juicy encounter.

Final Score 24-29