RUGBY
UNION –
SKIPTON 13 – 17
DINNINGTON
No excuses.
This was a poor display by Skipton. The high flying Reds looked lethargic
whilst Dinnington, desperate to stave off relegation at the other end of the
table, were full of initiative and energy and deserved to collect the winning
points. Skipton could claim that injuries to key players during the game
affected them and a mid-game delay of twenty minutes because of an injury to
the referee did not help.
However, the
reality was that Skipton started too well. After five minutes they were already
7-0 up and seemed to assume that they would coast to an easy win but when the
visitors seized their chances in the second half it left Skipton with red faces
as well as red jerseys.
Skipton’s
opening score made them look at their best. From the kick-off, the forwards had
been driving towards the line and then, from a scrum, Adam Oldfield released a
quick ball to the backs, Brydon Maiava was ready to burst through in the centre
and Darren Howson was on hand to touch down. Safely converted by Maiava and the
Reds were seven points up after five minutes.
But then the
first half became tedious with no more scoring. Gradually Dinnington were
getting into their stride and Skipton’s habit of kicking forward into their
hands instead of finding touch merely encouraged them to attack back. This
meant the Reds devoting time to defence, rather than creating scoring
opportunities. However, Skipton were still 7-0 in the lead at half-time.
Just before
half-time the game was delayed for twenty minutes because the referee left the
field with a muscle injury. This could well have caused the game to be
abandoned but, as a suitable referee was to hand in charge of a second team
game on an adjacent field, he was pressed into service.
The relevance
of this was that the twenty minute delay, plus half-time, seemed to send
Skipton to sleep in the sunshine. As soon as the second half started the
visitors attacked and sloppy Skipton defence allowed Dinnington to run in two
quick tries and with both tries converted Skipton were stunned to find
themselves 14-7 down.
By now the
Reds looked in disarray and with influential forwards Michael Snowden and Moa
Meki coming off with injuries, and Adam Odlfield also having been replaced at
half-time, all replacements were already on the field.
However, from
then on Skipton woke up again and all credit to the fifteen players who strove
to rescue the situation. Two successful penalty kicks by Howson got the score
back to a nail biting 13-14 and the three replacements stood out well in this
fight back; James Burke at scrum half, “Davo” Davison at his warhorse best and
Rick Willsher superbly jumping for ball in the line out. So nearly Skipton
pulled it back and possibly, had they got the ball out wide to the likes of
speedy Liam Ray instead of thrusting up the middle of the field, they would
have succeeded.
In the dying
seconds of the game, Dinnington needed to clinch it and this they did in style
with a long range dropped goal. Their victory of 17-13 was much deserved and
good luck to them as they do not deserve relegation on this showing.
As for the
league; Skipton are still in second place and in possession of a promotion
slot. Pocklington lost again and so only Yarnbury are really threatening the
Reds. With just six games remaining, Division 1 remains a real prospect for
Skipton – but there is no room for any more ‘off days’.