EDF CUP ROUND 2

BARNARD CASTLE 6 – 27 SKIPTON

Skipton’s winning run continues – this time in the EDF National Vase Competition when they cruised to victory on Saturday. The draw for the third round is now eagerly awaited.

Not that opponents Barnard Castle were easy opposition being a team who had previously only lost once this season. Furthermore, having left Skipton in calm drizzly conditions it was a surprise to play the game on an exposed pitch with a howling North East wind blowing which meant high kicks went awry and line outs ended in scrums because of impossible throwing in.

Whilst certainly not Skipton’s best performance of the season, it was a comprehensive win with the hosts restricted to one penalty kick in each half against four tries by the Reds.

The game started badly for Skipton when, after only three minutes, full back Richard Dillon departed for hospital with a badly torn finger, Mike Beech coming on as replacement.

The Reds quickly overcame this disruption and hit back with a try from winger Richard Curtin who had an excellent game both in attack and defence. Then came the best move of the day. Started by flanker Adam Oldfield from near the Skipton line, the Reds charged down the field and with impeccable handling the entire back line were involved weaving past defenders until centre Sean Kennedy dived over for a super try which, despite the conditions, Alex Naylor converted. Naylor also successfully kicked a penalty and Skipton were looking comfortable being 15 – 3 up at half time.

The second half started as a drab affair. Barnard Castle kept the ball in the forwards who were the best part of their squad and although they frequently threatened the Skipton line, dogged defence work by the Red’s pack kept them out. In all, Skipton used eleven forwards and they all deserve credit for effort but particular Adam Oldfield, playing his 200th 1st XV game for Skipton, who played like a trojan the whole game.

Then Skipton got the upper hand again with the next score being a speedy back’s movement enabling winger Jon Dillon to get over for a try. But the Red’s forwards also wanted to be on the score sheet and for the last fifteen minutes of the game camped on the hosts line. During this period a definite try by Oldfield was disallowed as the referee was unsighted but pressure won the day when Chris Wibberley saw a gap and his touch down was allowed. Naylor converted and a good win at 27 – 6 was well deserved.

Credit must also go to the growing group of travelling supporters now following the Reds on their travels who easily outnumbered the home crowd at Barnard Castle. Amongst the supporters was 21 year old James Boynton, who has been playing rugby in a Red shirt since the age of five, who left after the match for a tour of duty in Iraq with HM Forces – the Skipton Club wish him well in his seven months in the front line.