Lancashire vs Yorkshire under 15s match report
Lancashire narrowly beat rivals Yorkshire 17-16 in a nail biting game, to regain the Yorkshire Building Society trophy.
Two tries from front rower James Harper and replacement Joseph Simpson also crossing the whitewash, helped the home side edge out Yorkshire in the roses match at Rossendale Rugby Club.
Lancashire started the game brightly, with winger Joe Senior making an excellent break after linking up well with scrum- half Raphael Quirke.
However it would be Yorkshire who opened the scoring after four minutes, with their winger crossing the line out wide after a sweeping attack from a scrum on halfway. The fly-half added the extras to give the away side a seven point lead.
Lancashire were penalised at the breakdown moments later, and Yorkshire extended their lead to 10 points with a penalty kick from right in front of the posts.
Yorkshire enjoyed plenty of possession the opening quarter and another penalty gave them a 13-0 lead after 12 minutes.
This seemed to be a turning point in the game though as Lancashire began to settle down and fight their way back into the game.
Another Yorkshire penalty took the away sides lead to 16 points, but Lancashire fought back bravely and started to control the match.
Prop Harper gave the home side a life line minutes before half time, taking a quick penalty tap and powering his way over the line from 10 metres out. Fly-half Alex Clayton kicked a difficult conversion to take the score to 16-7 at half time.
Lancashire seemed to gain confidence from Harper’s try, and started the second half brilliantly, keeping Yorkshire on the back foot, and penned in their own 22.
Harper scored his second try of the game, again showing great strength to force his way over the line from five metres out. Clayton sent his conversion just wide, but the deficit had been cut to just four points.
The home side began to dominate the game from this point, and were excellent in both attack and defence against a very physical Yorkshire side.
After phase after phase of good attacking rugby from Lancashire, replacement Simpson crossed the white wash after scrum-half Quirke took another quick tap from a penalty.
Clayton just missed his conversion from the touchline, but Lancashire now had the lead 17-16 with only a few minutes left.
The second half showing was much improved from Lancashire, and they managed to hang on to claim victory over their biggest rivals.