By Billy Lewis
Yarnbury became the first team in Counties 1 Yorkshire this season to beat league leaders, Dinnington.
Having managed to secure a huge win over Keighley away, Yarnbury returned to Brownberrie Lane as they looked to keep their perfect 2026 going against undefeated league leaders, Dinnington.
Within the first couple of minutes Yarnbury managed to score their first try after number eight Kieren Beal was able to burst through for the opening score of the match.
Fly half Danny Pound knew that every point in this particular fixture was vital, but his first conversion was scuffed.
A dominant Dinnington maul saw them go in for their first try, with flanker Jamie Pearson going over the try line which couldn’t be converted by fly half Jonny West. The game stayed level, 5-5.
A couple of chances for Dinnington were shut out by Yarnbury and the men in white would make them pay with the second try. Centre Max Lee managed to sneak down the middle of the Dinnington defence and score. Pound had his kicking boots back on, securing the conversion.
Yet again the power of the Dinnington maul was required for try number two and it would be Pearson going over, with Yarnbury still in the lead 12-10.
Dinnington took the lead when full back Rob Leivars managed to find some metres until he found winger Maine Bunting, who scored the try right at the corner. West would scored his first conversion to extend his side’s lead.
Yarnbury though would not give up so easily after conceding three tries as the ball would go into the hands of full back Max Kennedy taking off to score and equalise the game.
Pound had a chance to put Yarnbury back in the lead but missed a tough conversion. Near the end of the first half, Yarnbury sealed the try bonus point courtesy of a break by Pound as he offloaded the ball to the onrushing Cam Newby to score.
An easier conversion for Pound to score as Yarnbury led 24-17 at half time. With the second half underway, the question on everyone’s mind was could Yarnbury be the first team to beat Dinnington in the league this season?
The start of the second half went Yarnbury’s way with another Kennedy try scored to sound of excited cheers from the crowd.
Pound scored his third conversion with belief now starting to appear that Yarnbury could win this match. Dinnington would quickly bounce back for their fourth try, scored by replacement Josh Cox.
West landed his second conversion to reduce Yarnbury’s lead by seven points. But Yarnbury’s James Longhawn had other ideas and it was to put a stop to Dinnington’s comeback by scoring a try of his own putting away any hope of them for a second comeback.
Another Pound conversion put Yarnbury back into a healthy lead and keeping their hopes alive.
The men in red though needed to still prove why they are on top of the table and they still pressed on to which it would award them try five with prop Covey Williams burrowing his way through for the try. West missed the conversion, which potentially could have been costly.
A Max Lee try looked to have sealed the game for Yarnbury. Dinnington’s Harry Pearson scored one more try at injury time with a West conversion to give them a losing bonus point.
What a win this would be for Yarnbury as they became the first team this season to beat Dinnington, their first league lost since losing to Wath Upon Dearne in March 2024.
For Yarnbury they’ll be looking to keep the 2026 steam train rolling as they play Leodiensian away. Final score at Brownberrie Lane, Yarnbury 43, Dinnington 36.
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