EDF NATIONAL
SENIOR VASE COMPETITION
Skipton opened
their season on Saturday with a stunning display.
Following
promotion last season, all Skipton’s games will be at a higher level this year
but on Saturday’s showing another good season is in prospect.
This success
was so comprehensive that highlighting individual players is difficult as this
was a total team effort by a superbly fit squad of strong forwards, fast backs
and excellent defence. Many Skipton
supporters rated this as the Reds’ best performance for years.
Within seconds
of the start the game burst into life and, after some slick passing movements,
winger Hamish Munro stormed down the line for his first try and then replicated
this minutes later for a second try which Darren Howson converted to put the
Reds 12 – 0 up after only eight minutes.
This set the
pattern of the day because throughout, Skipton’s backs gave an entertaining
display of flowing rugby with impeccable passing and catching, to bag a total
of 11 tries and with Darren Howson in good kicking form he converted seven of
these. Equal credit must go to the
forwards because their rock solid performance up front held the visitors at bay
enabling the backs to enjoy freedom.
Pocklington
had a short spell of action just before half time to score 10 points but
meanwhile further Skipton tries had come from George Smithson, James Burke and
Adam Oldfield and with two of these converted by Howson a half time score of 31
– 10 was very comfortable.
In the second
half it just got better and better for the Reds who scored another 38 points
without reply. Tries came from George
Smithson (another three), James Burke (another one) and Alex Naylor (two) with
four more kicking conversions by Darren Howson.
All eighteen players
used deserve a mention. However, in the
forwards, the two props John Firth and James Riches were outstanding and Riches
deserves special mention for bravely returning to the fray after treatment for
a nasty head wound early in the second half. New signing Michael Snowden at flanker was a
class act throughout the game and, once again, playing Moa Meki at No 8 paid
dividends.
In the backs
they were all good, particularly in respect of impeccable ball handling and it
was particularly good to see centre George Smithson back in top form and he got
his four tries through pure strength and determination to win. Lee Shaw made his debut in the closing minutes
on the wing and is clearly a rising star with his powerful style of running. Lee Battle at full-back brings a wealth of
experience ‘acquired in a green shirt’ and will be significant in helping the
Reds’ campaign this year.