Skipton 22 Yarnbury 29

After the previous week’s game was called off due to a frozen pitch at Bradford Salem, Skipton entertained Yarnbury on Saturday in a game both needed to win.

However, it started in totally the wrong fashion for Skipton. They kicked-off and Yarnbury caught the ball, secured it and then kicked it back over the heads of the Skipton forwards.

Unfortunately, the ball was then knocked on, some im-pressive chasing leading to it being picked up by one of the Yarnbury second rows, who found himself behind the Skipton defensive line.

He maintained his speed and momentum, and managed to go in for a try before the Skipton backs could turn and chase.

This setback seemed to galvanise Skipton and, after a succession of attacks, they were awarded a free-kick, which was taken quickly by scrum half Oldfield.

The ball was fed out to the left wing, chipped ahead and a good chase forced the Yarnbury full back to kick into touch.

Skipton won the line-out inside the Yarnbury 22, set the ball up and the pack drove forward to within a foot of the try-line.

The ball was sent down the back line to the right wing, then quickly recycled and sent left to Murray, who crashed over for an equalising try.

A few minutes later, a pen-alty was awarded against Yarnbury for not rolling away at the maul, and Hargreaves’ kick made it 8-5.

Play then alternated with neither side managing to break through the other’s defence. However, just before half-time, Skipton won their scrum just in their half, and kicked long into the opposing 22.

The Yarnbury right winger caught the ball and passed out wide to his full back, who managed to run through the Skipton defence and score under the posts for an easy conversion and a 12-8 half-time advantage.

Half-time lasted longer than normal as referee Stuart Clayton requested assistance from the physios as he unfortunately seemed to have pulled a muscle.

Unable to continue, help was sought from Neil Booth-royd, who had been officiating the second-team game.

He graciously agreed, a club referee replaced him for the second-team game, and play finally resumed after ten minutes.

The second half started with Skipton in the ascendancy. Full back Howson counter-attacked a long kick and, supported by Shaw and Hargreaves, moved play into the Yarnbury 22.

The Skipton forwards raced to support and recycled quickly, the ball being moved to one wing, then recycled and passed the other way.

It ended up with young prop Binner, who stormed through the Yarnbury defensive line to score under the posts, Hargreaves converting for 15-12.

This fruitful phase of play continued, Skipton winning their own scrum. Murray made good yards before releasing the ball to the backs, who took play into the Yarnbury 22 again.

Yarnbury had a line-out just inside their 22, and it was beautifully taken by Boatwright, allowing the ball to be passed out to the backs.

The ball was passed down the line to one wing, recycled quickly and then sent back to the other wing, recycled again and this time captain Richards in the centre found a way and scored near the posts, Hargreaves’ easy conversion making it 22-12.

With a quarter of the game left, Skipton needed to close the game down.

However, Yarnbury had other ideas. Skipton had the ball near halfway and made a break from a scrum but knocked on.

Yarnbury collected the ball and attacked right before switching to the left wing to score and convert, narrowing the gap to 22-19.

The next minute, Skipton were awarded a penalty on the Yarnbury ten-metre line, Hargreaves being a few feet short.

Two minutes later, Yarn-bury were also awarded a penalty for offside on the Skipton ten-metre line, and the penalty just had enough legs to creep over the bar and make it 22-22, and they added a converted try to break Skipton’s hearts.

The difference between the sides was the quality of tackling. Skipton have seven more games to put matters right, starting at home to Bridlington.