YORKSHIRE DIVISION THREE MATCH

SKIPTON GO TOP OF THE LEAGUE

SKIPTON 17 – 3 DONCASTER PHOENIX

This was Skipton at their best and they were always in the lead against close rivals Doncaster Phoenix.

The Reds stormed to a 17 – 0 lead at half time and then played a more cautious game in the second half with excellent defence to run out clear winners at 17 –3. This win puts Skipton top of the League table.

This was a total team effort combining forward power with potent backs and the pairing of talented young players James Burke and Hamish Munro in the centre, both products of Skipton’s Colts team, was a success with each scoring a try.

From kick-off, the Reds’ pack was totally in control pushing Phoenix backwards so that within five minutes Skipton were camped on the visitor’s line. A quick ball out saw centre James Burke speed over for an opportunist try which Alex Naylor converted and Skipton were 7 – 0 up.

This early supremacy seemed to stun highly rated Phoenix and for the entire first half Skipton totally dominated and was at their classiest best despite the heavy pitch conditions.

Every forward played his part – the front row of Crossman, Petterd and Riches were efficient and powerful, in the second row the Willsher brothers were always prominent with Malcolm in excellent jumping form and in the back row Oldfield, Sneddon and Murphy were always in the fray.

But Skipton were also moving the ball about. Scrum half Chris Wibberley was at his best and Darren Howson, playing his 200th 1st team game, used his experience to vary control of the game and his kicking forward to avert danger and gain ground was a feature.

Skipton’s second try came from Hamish Munro, Naylor again converted and with a penalty kick also in the bag Skipton cruised to a 17 – 0 half time lead.

In the second half, some thought that the Reds took their foot off the gas and could have scored more and speedy wingers Jon Dillon and Mike Beech did come close on several occasions. But on reflection the more cautious approach was intelligent play because adopting a defensive stance maintained the comfortable lead breached only by a penalty kick as consolation for Phoenix. Skipton’s defence in the second half was superb and rarely this season will Phoenix not have been allowed over the opponent’s line.

It was a proud Skipton team who left the field on Saturday after a good days work. With other results on Saturday going their way they enter the festive break top of the table and the New Year is eagerly awaited.