“SKIPTON
WIN TOUGH CUP GAME”
SKIPTON 12 –
BISHOP
SKIPTON progressed to Round 4 of the
EDF National Vase Competition in a game spoilt by atrocious weather conditions
which quickly turned the pitch into a quagmire and suppressed the normally high
scoring Reds.
The weather favoured the heavyweight
visitors from the North East. However Skipton were always more comfortable than
the scoreline suggests because, until Bishop Auckland scored a try in injury
time to narrow the result, a long held Reds lead of 12–3 seemed the likely
outcome.
From the kick-off it became apparent
that Skipton’s usually formidable forwards were going to be under pressure this
week and so, whenever possible, scrum half Mike Beech was feeding the ball out
to the backs who always looked potent and ball handling was good despite the
wet conditions. In the early stages the Skipton backs had some good thrusting
runs but as the rain and cold increased it was always going to be a forwards
game which suited the visitors’ style of play.
Skipton’s first score came from a
breakaway bursting run by flanker Adam Oldfield which Alex Naylor converted to
put the Reds 7-0 up. And so it remained for the whole of the first half apart
from a solitary penalty kick by the visitors to make it 7-3 at half time.
Soon after the restart, Oldfield burst
clear again and with full-back Sean Kennedy chasing in support to finish it off
Skipton’s second try put them 12-3 ahead. At this stage Skipton looked likely
to be moving towards a sizeable score.
However, with both sides cold, wet and
muddy it seemed a long second half with play bogged down in the forwards and no
further score was forthcoming. Then, in the final minute of injury time, the
Bishop Auckland forwards got their reward for sustained pressure throughout the
match. A pushover try, which was duly converted, narrowed the score to 12-10
but immediately afterwards the final whistle went and Skipton had another
victory in the bag.
All the Skipton team deserve credit for
maintaining discipline and a high standard of play in the difficult conditions.
Adam Oldfield and Vinnie Murphy deserve special mention amongst the forwards,
Mike Beech and Darren Howson were always in control as half-backs and Sean
Kennedy at full-back was impeccable in such difficult conditions.
The draw is now awaited for the next
round of the National Vase which will be played on 11 December. Meanwhile the
league programme resumes this week.