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. 💙💛