Despite a late attempted fightback Thornhill Trojans were left to ponder on how poor discipline cost them points as they narrowly went down 26-24 at home to Beverley in the Yorkshire A Conferfence.

Both teams were evenly matched for long periods, but a collapse by Thornhill in the second half, made worse by indiscipline, allowed the Beverley team back into the game.

The match was played in warm conditions so both teams should be given credit for battling it out for the full 80 minutes.

Referee Steve Race began to stamp his authority on proceedings from the off. First Thornhill's Elliot Robson was shown a yellow card after only three minutes for a high tackle. Beverley then had their water carrier shown a red card for making unwanted comments to the official.

Thornhill Trojans' 2026 team competing in the Yorkshire A Conference.

placeholder image — Thornhill Trojans' 2026 team competing in the Yorkshire A Conference.

It was more or less straight after the referee had produced his first red card of the game that Thornhill went over for the opening try when Callam Gamble squeezed over in the corner. Sam Ratcliffe kicked a brilliant goal from the touchline.

Beverley recovered immediately when the ball worked its way up the attacking line with some good handling. The Thornhill defence crumbled and Callum Barfield went over for an unconverted try.

Jake Hickling then spoke out of turn to the referee who once again reached into his pocket to produce a yellow card, giving the Trojans player a 10 minute break.

The visitors took advantage of their extra man as a long ball out to the wing created space for Barfield to go over for his second unconverted try.

There were calls for a forward pass and claims that the ball had been grounded short of the try line, but the referee was having none of it and the try was awarded.

However, a try in the corner from Gamble brought the hosts back into the game and with Ratcliffe converting they led 12-8 at the interval.

The first incident of the second half was the sin-binning of Beverley's Alex Nuttall for a high tackle. But this did not seem to hinder the visitors as Thornhill seemed to become a touch lacklustre in the heat.

Jay Hampshire raced between the posts to score a try for the visitors, which Lewis Straw converted.

Thornhill's cause was weakened when Robson was sin-binned for dissent. Following this, gaping holes began to appear in the defence and George Cooke went over for a try which Straw converted.

A kick forward then bounced perfectly to bamboozle the home defence, with Hampshire pouncing to roll over the line for another try converted by Straw.

But then Thornhill produced a late fightback to keep spectators interested until the end.

Brad Llewellyn raced 80 metres to score a spectacular long range try and Ratcliffe quickly converted as some urgency returned to the Trojans’ game.

As the goal was kicked Beverley's Barfield was sent-off for speaking out of turn to the referee.

Then at the death, Danny Stanley went on a terrific run and sent out a pass which found the supporting man of the match Oli Boocock. The Thornhill hooker went between the posts for a try which Ratcliffe again quickly converted.

However, this was all too late and the referee blew for full-time to confirm victory for the Beverley team.