RUGBY
UNION –
This was a tough match for the Reds against
The Reds victory was helped by some superb kicking by
centre Brydon Maiava who kicked four out of four ‘impossible’ penalty kicks in
the gale force wind to help Skipton build up a 17-5 lead by half time.
Experienced directive play by scrum-half Adam
Oldfield was the other key factor in this win but it was the Reds forwards who
collectively were the workhorses playing a relentless tight thrusting game to
match the heavy conditions. The pitch was in remarkably good condition
considering it had been under water in the recent floods.
The game started with Skipton gaining three points
within minutes from Maiava successfully getting a penalty kick. This gave the
Reds confidence and soon their only try of the game came from a fluent backs
movement with Darren Howson seeing a gap, centre Maiava taking the ball further
and then speedy winger Jon Dillon finishing it off by zipping over the line in
the far corner. Skipton were now 8-0 up.
But Wheatley
Hills were just as much in the game and when the Reds backs made a rare
mistake, fumbling the ball in defence, their winger Ryan Guest took advantage
and got the first of the visitors two tries. Score now a tight 8-5.
The rest of
the first half was very much a slogging forwards game but penalties awarded
against the visitors enabled the crowd to see some superb kicking by Maiava
including a remarkable kick straight over the posts from the half way line and
by half-time the Reds looked comfortable with a 17-5 lead.
Upon the restart
it was Wheatley Hills who were applying more pressure and once again it was
their potent backs which looked dangerous and soon their backs burst through
and their full back Squires scored their second try, fortunately again
unconverted.
With the score
now 17-10, the remaining thirty minutes turned into a mighty battle. Skipton
determined to hold onto their lead and gain two valuable points and Wheatley
Hills fighting to keep their own winning momentum going.
Skipton’s
forwards were in mighty form with props Phil Crossman and John Firth rock
solid, Michael Snowden, as always, was impeccable with his defensive tackling
and Moa Meki was always there as a ball carrying No 8. The starting eight, plus
Ryan Binner and Mark Davison in the second half, all deserve maximum credit for
battling away against the visitor’s heavy experienced pack.
It seemed a
long second half for both sides without further score and although Skipton’s
fast winger Liam Ray, back in action after injury, came close to scoring on
several fast runs forward, it was a relief to Skipton to hear the final whistle
and disappointing to Wheatley Hills who had striven for a win all afternoon.
After a bit of
a stutter over the year-end, this was Skipton back in best form by playing as a
hard working cohesive team playing for eighty minutes to win and making no
careless mistakes. Two more valuable points sees the Reds still occupying
second place in the table and keeping their promotion hopes alive.
It was an all
round good weekend for the Skipton camp. All three senior teams were at home on
Saturday and all three won – the 2nds beat Heath 2nds by 19-7 and the 3rds beat
Heath 3rds by 22-5. On Sunday the
Skipton Club hosted Yorkshire U20’s against Cumbria U20’s.