SKIPTON 66 – 5
NORTHALLERTON
SKIPTON
clinched promotion to Yorkshire Division Two in style on Saturday.
With the sun
shining and the biggest home crowd for several seasons, the scene was set for a
good game and the Reds treated their supporters to a superb performance which
saw them run in ten tries and eight conversions to rack up a score of 66
points, answered only by one single try from the visitors.
All season,
four teams have been in the running for the two promotion places but with
Thornensians and Moortown falling away recently, Skipton and
For Captain
Darren Howson it was a personal glory day on Saturday, when he scored four
tries and kicked eight conversions to make a personal tally of 36 points,
believed to be a Club record in any one game.
In the first
ten minutes Skipton started too eagerly and this allowed the mature,
experienced Northallerton side to put pressure on Skipton’s line. However, the Reds soon calmed down and took
control of the first half to gain a comfortable 12-0 lead at half time, and
then notch up a stunning 54 points in the second half.
In the first
half all the scoring came from Darren Howson, with two tries and a conversion
and, although the pattern was set for the backs to gain the scoring glory throughout
the match, it was the Skipton forwards who did the sterling work in the first
half to wear down the opposition, who were visibly tiring by half time.
All the
forwards played their part and so it is difficult to single out any one player
because they were an efficient, cohesive unit in total. As usual, Malcolm
Willsher was the dominant jumper in the line-out and, in the front row, James
Riches was prominent even breaking away on occasions towards the try line. The back row flankers of Iain Sneddon and Sam
Boatwright were everywhere whenever the opposition captured the ball and the
pack was being constantly driven on by scrum half Adam Oldfield.
In the second
half, apart from one leaked try gained by Northallerton in a pushover, it was
all one way traffic for Skipton and the backs gave a stunning display of open
rugby to delight the crowd. George
Smithson coming on at half time for his first 1st XV game of the
season (following injury last year), was a significant factoring adding fire
power to an already powerful line-up.
After the
re-start, the first try came from Adam Oldfield, evidence that the forwards
were pinning the visitors in their own half.
Playing
constantly in the visitor’s half enabled the Red’s backs to get moving into top
gear and centre George Smithson was next on the score sheet with a try after a
strong bursting run. This was quickly
followed by another try from Darren Howson.
Next try came
from flanker Iain Sneddon who finished off a long run by winger Hamish Munro.
Then it was
the turn of Sean Kennedy who, despite having moved to full back in the second
half, was joining the attack and getting on the score sheet. With Darren Howson
infallible as goal kicker, Skipton’s score had already passed 50 and yet more
was to come.
Next it was
the turn of winger Richard Curtin with a try resulting from a typical Curtin
run discarding defenders en-route. Then the forwards got their reward for
eighty minutes hard work when Vinnie Murphy darted over for a try.
In the final
move of the game it was fitting that captain Darren Howson went over for his
fourth personal try of the game which he duly converted and there was the final
score of 66-5.
It was a
credit to the spirit of the game that Northallerton played it clean and were
gracious in defeat as Skipton basked in their glory in front of their home
supporters.
The Reds can
now go to their final league game, away at Moortown on April 14th,
in a relaxed mood albeit the aim now is to grab the Championship from Yarnbury
by beating them on scoring difference. The Reds last game of the season will be
at home on April 28th when they entertain a touring side from