Stocksbridge 7 – 28 Skipton
Stocksbridge has a reputation as one of the most
inhospitable places in
New recruits Moa Meki and Gavin Pettard positively relish close quarter combat, indeed the thought and hanging around in the backs is an anathema to them, and together with the rejuvenated Phil Crossman toyed with their opponents in the scrum. The second row unit of Richard Hill and Malcolm Willsher dominated the lineouts and nothing of their all round excellence was lost when Richard Willsher came on as a second half replacement. With a back row of Matthew Boatwright, Adam Oldfield and Ian Sneddon intent on allowing somewhat limited opposition no space in which to work the performance of the pack was exemplary. The only hiccups came when Crossman had to leave the field for running repairs to a cut head creating a couple of dodgy scrummages and in the second half when Skipton went for some perfect off the top line-out ball and the throw overshot the runway in the manner of a television presenter. The back three of Mike Beech and John and Richard Dillon were comfortable with ball in hand and combined well in attack and defence. The mid field pairing of George Smithson and Richard Curtin grow ever more solid as a pairing and Skipton could have opened the scoring after a searing break from Curtin had exposed the home frailties. Stand off Darren Howson, whose laconic running style and tactical punting disquieted Stocksbridge throughout the game was on hand to take the pass but was pulled down just short of the try line. Christian Wibberley in only his second game back after surgery grew into his role as the game progressed and proved a skilled coxswain steering the pack.
Playing uphill and into the wind first half Skipton were engaged in a classic damage limitation exercise and reached the brink of half time in little danger of conceding a score when referee Robinson, who it has to be said did not have his best game annoying friend and foe alike, gifted Stocksbridge a try. They drove the ball over the line where the unsighted official unpeeled the players from the maul like layers from and onion before awarding the try to hooker Bell fully twenty seconds after the action stopped. With Law converting the seven-point half time lead looked little more than a minor inconvenience. Three times the red pack drove over the line to the embarrassment of the home pack creating tow tries for Pettard and one for Oldfield and Howson, taking over from the indisposed Naylor, nailed the conversions.
The game entered it’s final quarter drifting towards the inevitability of a Skipton victory when Smithson decided it was time to leave his mark. Launching himself at an unsuspecting defence he powered through leaving Howson’s kick a formality.
It was a thoroughly efficient performance taking Skipton the fourth place and confidently awaiting the visit of unbeaten Thornensians.