Rugby Riley ReportsCheddar RFC 7 – Yate RFC 67

Wow. Just… wow.

This one had a slightly strange build-up. With our league game cancelled at the last minute, Yate suddenly found themselves heading into the unknown against Cheddar — a side we’d never played before. No league pressure, sure, but that unfamiliarity always brings a bit of nervous energy with it. You could feel it in the warm-up: focused, switched on, but quietly asking, what are these lads going to bring?

Turns out… quite a lot — and Yate brought even more.

From early doors, it was clear this was going to be a forwards’ day. Cheddar rolled out a big, physical pack and tried to set a platform through sheer power, but Yate’s forwards absolutely delivered. They met fire with fire, and more often than not came out on top. Old rugby saying alert: forwards win matches — and this one was a textbook example.

What really impressed me though was the balance. Yes, there was loads of hard graft — big carries, heavy tackles, ruck work that left shoulders aching — but when the chance came, Yate didn’t hesitate to play. There was some beautiful, expansive rugby on show, ball being shifted wide, runners hitting space, and tries coming from all over the pitch. It was grunt work matched by flair, and it was brilliant to watch.

One moment summed up the mindset of the team perfectly. Cheddar put together a serious spell of pressure, their pack hammering away at the Yate line. Just when it felt like something had to give… bang — a massive Yate turnover. That wasn’t just good technique, that was hunger and pride in defence.

Credit to Cheddar too. Having never faced them before, it was clear they’re a well-run club with proper rugby values. Even with the scoreline stretching, they never folded. They kept competing, kept tackling, and right up to the final whistle they were scrapping to stop any more scores going on the board. That kind of spirit deserves respect.

With a big squad travelling, not everyone got huge minutes, but even in short bursts some players made their mark. Matt Gibbs, again, caught the eye — even playing out of position on the wing, you can see the trouble he’s going to cause defences this season. Pace, power, and confidence in buckets.

And a massive shout-out to the Yate faithful. Long drive, non-league game, freezing sidelines — and still loads of you turned up. It genuinely made it feel like a home fixture, and the lads definitely felt that support out on the pitch.

A huge win, yes… but more than that, a big signal of where this group is heading.

Development. Momentum. Progression. 💙💛

💫 Try-Line Tilly Reports…Yate Ladies vs Chippenham Ladies

Okay… yes, the scoreboard says 51–0.But if you only looked at the numbers, you missed the story.

Because what I saw out there was a Yate Ladies team that absolutely refused to roll over.

We went into this one knowing Chippenham were big, powerful and packed with strong ball carriers. We braced for a tough afternoon — but what we got was something we can be seriously proud of. This was a proper, gritty, full-on rugby battle, and we walked off that pitch feeling happy with how we played.

One of the biggest standout moments for me? Watching our defence smash their big runners backwards and force them out wide again and again. Every time Chippenham tried to punch through the middle, Yate were there — low tackles, big hits, and total commitment. That centre-field defence was rock solid.

And wow… can we talk about the mother-daughter dream team?

Liz stepped into the 9 shirt at the very last minute and absolutely bossed it. Calm, clever, experienced — she controlled the tempo, made smart decisions and even picked up Back of the Match. Unreal.

Tayler also stepped up to play out of position and was brilliant — dynamic, brave and constantly in the thick of it. When she went off injured, you could really feel her absence, which tells you everything about her impact.

Defensively, Yate were outstanding, especially through the middle of the pitch. The first half in particular was a proper statement — organised, aggressive, and full of heart. It was one of those halves that shows exactly what this team is about: turning up for each other no matter what’s in front of you.

There were some great individual moments too — and a massive shout-out to Holly, who made her debut and honestly… you would never have guessed. Confident, composed, and fearless — definitely one to watch.

Chippenham were exactly what we expected: strong ball carriers, well drilled and physical — but also brilliant sports. A tough, enjoyable team to play against, which made the whole match feel like real rugby, not just a one-sided contest.

And of course, the sideline… wow. The noise, the encouragement, the love — it really lifts you when you’re digging deep, and it showed just how strong the Yate family is.

We know what we’re working on next: tightening our attacking lines and spreading a little better in defence. But what we already have is huge.

So if I had to sum this one up?

Physical. Defensive. Positive.

Proud of this group. This was a loss on paper — but a win for belief, grit and where this Yate Ladies team is heading 💙💛

Yate U11s vs St Bernadette’s U11s

Well, if this was the opening chapter of 2026 for the Under 11s… what a cracking way to start it.

The first ten minutes were a bit of a wake-up call for Yate. St Bernadette’s came flying out of the blocks with real pace and intensity, catching us a little cold — and I mean that literally and rugby-wise. They took an early lead by playing fast, direct rugby and making us work hard to get back in shape.

But then… Yate switched on.

The second ten saw a big shift. Suddenly the rucks were sharper, the passing was cleaner, and St Bernadette’s found themselves pushed onto the back foot. You could feel the momentum turning as Yate started to play heads-up rugby, linking well and finding space.

By the third quarter, it was proper Yate rugby. The lads and lasses were reading the game brilliantly, spotting gaps, making smart runs and getting rewarded with some well-worked tries. The pitch awareness was miles better — they weren’t just running hard, they were running clever.

The final ten minutes was a bit of a frosty thriller 😂Cold hands, tired legs and a slippery ball meant both sides were spilling a few easy ones — but it was even, competitive and full of effort right to the last whistle.

Big shout-out to Daisy, who took Player of the Match and absolutely deserved it 👍👍Energy, bravery and skill all wrapped into one brilliant performance.

All in all, a great game, loads to be proud of, and a brilliant way to kick off the new year for the U11s. If this is what January looks like, the rest of 2026 is going to be very exciting indeed 💙💛