A chronic shortage of players led to Skipton conceding their Yorkshire Three game at Goole on Saturday. Two weddings led to many regulars being unavailable.

Crucially, Skipton didn’t have sufficient first-team experience props to fulfil the match. In the records the result goes down as 0-0, but Goole gave been awarded the win and that has been enough to confirm them as league champions.

Skipton did send a mixed team to Goole for a friendly match and they were resoundingly beaten.

The home side ran in 19 tries as they notched up a 111-0 victory.

The Reds, whose relegation to Division Four has already been confirmed, will be hoping to round off their league programme on a happier note at home to Harrogate Pythons on Saturday.

There will also be considerable interest in the performance of the second team.

They are taking on York 3rds in the semi-finals of the North Yorkshire Trophy (3pm) and will be playing on the main pitch.

The Skipton side has made good progress this season under Brian Brocksom and Pat Law’s guidance.

They have ensured that the team, which contains six under-21 players, has made steady progress through-out the campaign.

A run of Merit Table wins in the run up to the semi-final has boosted spirits.

The victories have also served to illustrate that all the hard work is beginning to pay off for the Skipton second string. A cup final place would be a welcome bonus