For the second week in succession when all other local home games were postponed the One's fixture against Warwickshire side Southam in Midlands 3 West (South) was still able to go ahead.
Unfortunately though for the home side, with the elements in their favour, Southam who are celebrating their fiftieth season, couldn't have hoped for a better start as they raced to a 10-0 lead within the opening three minutes with a converted try & a penalty and Yards were staring at a rare home defeat in the face.
However, Yards weren't prepared to surrender their twenty month unbeaten home streak that easily, and gradually the Yards forwards began to claw their way back into the game and pinned Southam back into their twenty two for prolonged periods, and it was from a now trademark driving maul that Yards opened their account with a try from hooker Adam Baldock who picked up from the resulting ruck and drove over to score. Despite the wind drawing Jake White's conversion attempt wide Yards were back in the game at 10-5 and soon after Baldock doubled his account with a bludgeoning run through the Southam defence, and with White's conversion bisecting the uprights Yards were in front at 12-10.
And then as half timed loomed, a moment of controversy when Old Yards were awarded a penalty just inside the Southam twenty two. Fly half White opted for a kick at goal but his attempt was held up in the strong wind and with the uprights also oscillating the ball dropped into the Southam in goal area and with the defenders caught in two minds it was Yards winger Carl Bucknall who was first to react diving on the loose ball for Yards' third try while Southam looked on. The try was converted by White to give Yards a deserved 19-10 lead at halftime.
Yards opened the scoring in the second half increasing their lead to 22-10 with a crisply struck penalty from fly half White but as the playing surface began to deteriorate the game descended into a war of attrition between the two sets of forwards and with the fading gloom and muddy conditions exchange referee Mr Justin Missen from Peterborough was beginning to find it difficult to distinguish the two sets of opposing forwards.
In the final quarter with Yards pressing hard & looking for the try that would secure them the bonus point a loose touch kick was capitalised upon by the Southam three-quarters who ran half the length of the pitch to score their second try, and with the conversion this ensured the final few minutes were tense ones for the home support as Southam sensed victory; but Yards dug deep and kept the tackles flying in to secure a remarkable come back victory 22-17.
With second placed Pinley also winning in the division's only other surviving fixture Old Yards remain on top three points clear of the Coventry side. This Saturday Yards face a lengthy & potentially tricky road trip to mid table side Cheltenham North.
On the adjacent pitch the Clubs Second team were involved in Worcester & Hereford Merit League 1 action against Bridgnorth 2nds and a good solid team performance saw them avenge their earlier defeat against the Shropshire visitors running out 19-7 winners; tries coming from Jim Hendricks, Tom Thacker and experienced fly half Ian Walker who also added two conversions.