ROUNDHEGIANS 29 – 35 SKIPTON

Skipton deservedly won this vital league game but it was a pity that defensive errors allowed the hosts to have a flattering scoreline.

A rejuvenated Roundhegians side belied their low league position and their heavyweight team punctured the Reds defence far too frequently for comfort.

However, bursts of classy play from the Reds aided by the superb kicking form of captain Darren Howson, saw Skipton gain victory.

Indeed it was a defensive lapse that allowed ‘Hegians to go 5-0 up within minutes to shake Skipton’s confidence.

However, the Reds soon fought back with a quick try from flanker Iain Sneddon and this was successfully converted by Darren Howson.

From then on, every time Skipton scored, the host’s heavyweights seemed to retaliate by using sheer weight and determination to try and burst through and get tries to cancel out the Red’s lead. Their stand off Hogg was the danger man and he scored fourteen of their twenty nine points. And this became the pattern all afternoon. This made for a tense game with the lead frequently changing hands.

Skipton’s next try came from Iain Sneddon again, resulting from a final pass from quick thinking James Burke who had weaved through almost to the line. Indeed a feature of this game was how the two mavericks, forward Iain Sneddon and back centre James Burke, linked up all afternoon to benefit.

Howson again converted.

Skipton were than awarded a penalty try. This resulted from sustained attack on the line by the rampant Red’s forward pack and eventually the referee tired of ‘Hegians defaulting in defence. Howson again converted. Half time arrived with Skipton now comfortably in the lead.

But in the second half the hosts score rate was also going up again – often against the run of play they were finding holes in defence and sneaking in tries.

The Red’s next try came from centre Sean Kennedy and again this was safely converted by the “in form” boot of Darren Howson. At last Skipton were pulling clear and really getting on top.

However, this comfortable lead suddenly disappeared when Roundhegians pulled off an interception and scored a try right under the posts and with an easy conversion the tension reappeared.

However the Red’s forwards were now in top gear surging time and time again to the host’s line and hooker Gavin Petterd forced over for Skipton’s final try, safely converted by Howson.

This time the hosts were pinned down and could not retaliate and Skipton came away 35-29 winners.

With close rivals Thornensians losing again, Skipton now only need one win from their remaining two league games to secure promotion. The Reds have no match next Saturday but all eyes will be on the Reds the following week (31^st) when they play Northallerton at home.