YATE Rugby Club may have begun their new adventure in defeat on the scoreboard but they were victorious in every other way last Saturday.

The new club played their first ever match at the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex and lost 33-14 to North Bristol thirds.

However, it turned into a tremendous day as the club got their debut season off with a bang.

Indeed, North Bristol’s third team included a few of the club’s second and first team yet, by half time, Yate held them to a 7-7 verdict and had more chances to score.

Yate took the lead when wing Luke Lodge scored the historic first ever try which saw James Cannon boot a long-range conversion before North Bristol replied just before half time with a converted try of their own.

There were a number of changes to the Yate side at the break in order to give all the players who turned up a run-out.

But North Bristol showed their experience and started to dominate the home team during the second period as they ran-in tries.

However, Yate managed to cross the visiting line again when centre Craig Archer, who was partnered with one of the club’s founders Stewart Stacey in midfield, roared over for a converted touchdown.

Stacey said: “North Bristol showed up with a well organised team, strong all over the pitch but we showed heart and passion and never gave up. The result never went our way but there are so many positives.

“We shocked them a bit and, all in all, we have been together as a group for four weeks and we did ourselves proud.

“Their (North Bristol) coach Danny Williams said our backline in the first half was really strong. Danny said you would never have thought you had been going (as a club) for nine weeks. He also said our standard was as good as clubs in the second team leagues and we would do well.”

Now, Yate RFC have their first away game when they travel to the north of the county to play Cheltenham Vets on Saturday at Cheltenham Civil Service ground where they would love to return from with a debut win.