West Leeds add more silverware with Yorkshire Shield defeat of Bradford & Bingley

West Leeds completed the triple when they added the Yorkshire Shield to their trophy cabinet alongside the RFU National Senior Vase and the Yorkshire Two title.
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Now unbeaten in 37 matches, West Leeds defeated Yorkshire One champions Bradford and Bingley 25-17 in the final at West Park Leeds, after opening up a healthy lead by half-time and defending superbly after the break.

A pushover try on 13 minutes for No 8 Damian Pearson was added to by winger Danny Booth, whose 23rd minute score was converted by Dale Breakwell.

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Full-back Kier Breakwell scored in the corner and Dale converted just before the break as West Leeds led 19-0.

Bradford and Bingley hit back strongly with tries from flanker Tom Booth and two for prop Roger Raper, but West Leeds held out and confirmed their win with two penalties from Dale Breakwell.

Thornensians were crowned the Yorkshire Silver Trophy champions after beating league rivals Wetherby 18-13 in the final.

Winger Robert Brown kicked two penalties and centre Luke Marsden touched down as Thorne took a 11-10 interval lead.

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After Wetherby had crept into a 13-11 lead, Thorne left winger Oliver Cox raced over and Brown again added the extras to edge back in front, and the Doncaster side held out for the win.

It was all the sweeter after having been pipped to the Yorkshire Three title by Wetherby, although both will be promoted.

Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign came to a disappointing end as they were beaten 45-33 at Eastern Counties in their final match of the Bill Beaumont Cup and relegated in the process.

The visitors started the brighter and took the lead through an unconverted try from prop Rikki Stout, but shortly after Mike Gillick went over from scrum-half for Eastern Counties for a try converted by Simon Hrbek.

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Man of the match Sam Bixby set up hooker Patrick Calvert to go over almost immediately to extend the home side’s lead with a 30m sprint, Hrbek converting for a second time, before going over himself to give Eastern Counties a commanding 21-7 lead at the break.

The second half saw a spirited fight back from Yorkshire, who cut the deficit with a penalty try converted by Greg Lound and levelled things up with a score from winger Simon Frewin.

The visitors went briefly in front when Jake Brady ran in a fourth, but the Eastern Counties’ retaliation began almost at once with a penalty by Hrbek and a try from Matthew Smith, before Hrbek crossed the line himself to put the hosts out of sight.

Yorkshire reduced the arrears at the finish with a second penalty try, but Redmond Newberry had put the cherry on the cake for Eastern Counties with their sixth try of the game.

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