The Yorkshire side made the short trip across the Pennines to embark on the annual battle of the roses.

Things got off to a shaky start as all the team, under the guidance of Richard Gardner turned up at the wrong venue. Nevertheless the SYAFL team turned up unscathed at the correct venue albeit a little late.

The Yorkshire outfit lined up as follows:-
GK Louis Butcher (North Gawber)
RB Jordan Wilkinson (Millmoor Juniors)
LB Jon Breeze (Sheffield Medics)
CB Chris Mackie (North Gawber)
CB Tom Cliffe (Sheffield Medics)
CM Tim Sandals (C) (Sheffield Medics)
CM Cal Mackie (North Gawber)
RM Shannon Marsland (Sheffield Bankers)
LM Joel Lawson (Sheffield Medics)
CF Adam Kennedy (Millmoor Juniors)
ST Harry Hambleton (Sheffield Medics)

Subs
GK Callum Hall (Sheffield Bankers)
CF Craig Patterson (Millmoor Juniors)
CB Ricky Walia (Sheffield Bankers)
CM Richard Gardner (Sheffield Bankers)

After the pre-match respect handshake the game was underway. The South Yorkshire side looking much the brighter. Some smart play down the left from Breeze and Cal Mackie left Lawson free of the full back. LAWSON curled a great finish over the keeper from outside the box, 1-0 Yorkshire inside 2 mins.

The Lancashire side were comfortable in possession but were limited to long range efforts and half chances. The closest they came was from a corner, Tom Cliffe hooked clear off the line. Hambleton and Kennedy working hard to win the ball high up the pitch created a turnover and Mackie played Hambleton through down the right who played square to LAWSON who slotted home from close range. 2-0 Yorkshire.

The away side struggled to maintain possession as the hosts looked to apply pressure it was a good turn in the box from the Lancashire number 3 who was tripped and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. The resulting penalty driven low past the arms of keeper Butcher. 2-1 to the away side. At half-time.

The half-time team talk was accompanied by a most welcome hot cup of tea to warm the players in the sub zero conditions. Yorkshire brought GK Callum Hall in for Butcher for the second half.

The second half started with the home side keen to win possession and Yorkshire still looking dangerous on the break. Lancs forced a turnover high on the left and a square ball was despatched low into the corner of the Yorkshire goal by the Lancashire striker. Parity restored 2-2.

A quick restart from Yorkshire down the right Marsland's smart dribbling drew a foul near the right corner of the box. The away side introduced Patterson to replace the hardworking Kennedy up front. The resulting free kick played in with pace beyond the Lancashire defence found SANDALS unmarked to head firmly passed the home keeper. 3-2 Yorkshire a great reply from the away side.

The home side created the better of the chances only to find Hall in strong form in the Yorkshire goal. Now it was the Lancashire defence limiting the away side to shots from range, Mackie firing wide from 25 yards. Marsland and Patterson combined neatly down the right only to be ruled offside with Marsland clean through.

With the game approaching the closing stages Yorkshire brought Walia into the defence in place of Chris Mackie and Louis Butcher into attack in place of Hambleton. A corner for the home side from the right half cleared and following a deflection dropped to the Lancashire midfielder who turned sharply and hit a powerful shot passed Hall. 3-3.

The Lancashire side looked to finish the game off only to find Hall again in form, when he was finally beaten once more Cliffe again cleared expertly off the line. Yorkshire tried to snatch it, unfortunately Patterson fired wide from inside the box. With both managers preparing their lists for the penalty shootout the Lancashire number 15 had other ideas as he twisted and turned on the run and fired into the bottom right of the goal with 13 seconds left to play. 4-3 to the hosts.

One last attack from the away side but the ball into the box was cleared by the head of the Lancashire centre back. Full-time 4-3 to Lancashire &Cheshire Reps.

A great effort from the side from South Yorkshire, having never played together before and to travel to Manchester a produce a performance like that was nothing short of excellent. Some really strong individual displays from Cal Mackie Tom Cliffe but with 2 goals and an assist the SYAFL Reps man of the match was Joel Lawson. Well done all, we'll win it back next year!