2ND XV MERIT LEAGUE GAME

 

WEST LEEDS A 27 – 17 SKIPTON A

 

Skipton started well with driving mauls setting up position to try a well-worked back move that created space, a poor pass at the last spoilt what would have been the perfect start. They kept up the pressure, which eventually led to a James Burke penalty.

 

They then switched off for a second and a quickly-taken tap penalty resulted in West Leeds getting the first try. Skipton went back up the field but could not break down a resolute West defence whose midfield backs were impenetrable the whole match. Then a break from half-way, plenty of passes led to Wests’ second score just before half-time.  Half-time 10-3.

 

Change of plan, kick for position, this worked, a James Burke bomb led to panic in the West back three, Paddy Murray picking up, passing to James Burke, whose strength took him over the line with a couple of West defenders with him. He then put icing on the cake, converting from the touchline.

 

West again upped the tempo, Skipton started tiring and conceding penalties. This pressure eventually resulted in a sin-binning for Skipton as desperate but illegal defence stopped a certain West score. Skipton spent most of that ten-minute spell on their own goal-line but managed to prevent any further scores.

 

Their efforts in this period took a huge amount out of them, West continued running the ball at every opportunity, finishing with two tries in the corner, converted by an on-form kicker. They then fell foul of the referee, who sin-binned a defender for killing the ball. Skipton took advantage, Paddy Murray putting winger Ben Davies in the corner. Burke again converted from the touchline. West had the last word with a long-range penalty finishing the scoring off.

 

14 October 2006 – Merit Table – Away

 

Team

15 Matt Wilson           

14 Ben Davies

13 Chris Wilkinson

12 James Wade           

11 John Hughes           

10 James Burke

9 Jon Kulik                  

8 Paddy Murray          

7 Peter Dutton

6 Andy Phillip  

5 Brad Bates               

4 Paul Shearer

3 Gordon Fisher          

2 Dave Mitten 

1 Nigel Fitzsimmonds

 

Subs

Will Huggins    

 

Tries

James Burke        Ben Davies

 

Cons

James Burke 2

    

Penalty

James Burke