🏉 Clubhouse Connor’s Match Day Report: Yatton 2's 14 – 59 Yate Combination XV - Friendly

yateyouthrugby
Dec 16, 2025
3 min read

"When effort meets enjoyment, good things happen.”

Alright folks, Clubhouse Connor here — coat on, collar up, and leaning happily on the clubhouse rail after watching Yate’s combination XV put together a performance that was as satisfying as it was impressive.

A big scoreline? Absolutely. But there was far more to enjoy than just the numbers.

🤝 Standout Moment – Rugby Wins

Strange as it may sound in a 59–14 victory, my standout moment wasn’t a try.

It was seeing Yate players stepping in to help the game continue as Yatton’s numbers dropped, the result of an abrasive, relentless Yate forward pack. Cliché or not, it genuinely felt like one of those afternoons where rugby was the real winner. Respect shown, spirits kept high, and the game played in the right way.

🧠 Mindset: Focused from the Chaos

For the second week running, a late change of venue and opposition threatened to throw preparation out the window.

But once boots were on and the whistle blew, the focus was razor sharp. The lads were determined to bounce back after last week, and by full time, having slogged it out on a hard pitch, there was real satisfaction around the group. A strong performance, with the quiet knowledge that tougher tests still lie ahead.

🧱 Forwards Front and Centre

After a frustrating outing last week, the forward pack made a serious statement.

In tricky conditions they:

Carried hard
Hit excellent lines
Dominated collisions
Set the platform all afternoon

As a unit, they were powerful, organised, and hungry — and the backs were only too happy to play off their momentum.

🔄 Support Play on Show

What really stood out was the support in attack.

Offloads were flying — left, right, and centre — and Yatton simply couldn’t cope in the first half. It was confident, heads-up rugby, with players working for each other and keeping the ball alive.

One beautifully worked try down the left summed it all up: a loose ball, a half break, then five offloads through the forwards before Dave Vince powered over for the finish. Proper team rugby.

🧩 Room to Improve

It wasn’t perfect and the lads know it.

Multiple substitutions led to the game becoming a bit scrappy, with shape lost at times and a couple of avoidable tries conceded. Those are lessons that will need tightening up with league opposition returning next week.

Better organisation. Clearer shape. Same intensity.

🌟 Debut & Progress Watch

A couple of big positives to call out:

Matt Cook, on debut, looked dangerous all afternoon and put in a full 80-minute shift.
Matt Gibbs, making his first start, continued to show just how much impact he’s bringing to the Yate backline.

Both added real quality and energy.

👏 Credit to Yatton

Facing the slope, the breeze, and a low winter sun, the first half was always going to be tough for the home side.

Despite being down on the scoreboard — and down on numbers — Yatton played right to the final whistle in good spirits. Their effort was rewarded with two well-earned converted tries in the second half. Full respect to them.