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Yorkshire had to work hard for their 21-20 win over Cheshire at Harrogate where both sides managed two tries.
Doncaster No 8 Oliver Cook had a debut to remember with a 50-yard gallop for a try after his brother, lock forward Dan, had opened the scoring with an early touchdown. Another debutant, Leeds Tykes fly-half Tom Whittaker, supplied the three penalties and a conversion that gave the home side the crucial edge, but less welcome news was that prop Tom Davies had broken his arm and full-back Ben Greaves may well be ruled out next weekend with concussion.
Bath University full-back Duncan Steel landed two penalties for Cheshire and converted tries by Manchester wingman Ben Coulbeck and Halifax fly-half Tom Eaton.
“Cheshire got back within striking distance at 21-20 after 57 minutes and with the wind at their backs, they were looking favourites,” says Yorkshire Team Manager Graham Siswick. “But we defended well and held on for the win.”
“Cheshire proved that we are worth being in this section of the County Championship with a very competitive display,” said a proud Graeme Marrs: “Our forwards never took a backward step and there’s no question that we had other chances to score tries.
“We always take County Championship rugby very seriously and work very hard at it. I thought Adam Kettle, our flanker from Bedford, was the Man of the Match – he was outstanding.”
Despite the narrowness of the defeat, the result still leaves Cheshire fighting for survival in the Bill Beaumont Cup when they entertain North Midlands at Macclesfield next Saturday.
Neither side has won a game so far and the bottom team will drop into the County Championship Shield next season.
Match Preview
Yorkshire have brought eight new players into their squad and five into the team for the visit of Cheshire to Harrogate (3pm tomorrow), the latest setback being an injury to Otley flanker Dan Hyde in training last night.
England Counties and Wharfedale centre Mark Bedworth replaces club-mate Malherbe at centre, while Leeds Tykes No 10 Tom Whittaker takes the fly-half spot. Yorkshire are unchanged in the front-row, but Matthew Challinor from Morley now partners skipper Dan Cook at lock, Matthew Stockdale (Otley) comes in at flanker and Doncaster’s Oliver Cook, brother of Dan, makes his debut at No 8.
Yorkshire (v Cheshire at Harrogate, 3pm): Ben Greaves (Bradford & Bingley); Simon Horsfall (Wharfedale), Mark Bedworth (Wharfedale), Danny McGee (Halifax), Mark Kirkby (Bradford & Bingley); Tom Whittaker (Leeds Tykes), Andy Brown (Otley); Tom Davies (Doncaster), Scott Plevey (Doncaster), Rob Wilson (Bradford & Bingley), Dan Cook (Doncaster) capt, Matthew Challinor (Morley), Matthew Stockdale (Otley), Gareth Lewis (Halifax), Oliver Cook (Doncaster).
Replacements: Richard List (Doncaster), Will Kay (Halifax), James Armitage (Cambridge), Barry Clark (Bradford & Bingley), Alastair Allen (Wharfedale), Dan Storey (Doncaster), Luther Burrell (Leeds Tykes)
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