INITIAL anxieties over the weather, with a blustery squall coming in about an hour into the event, proved unfounded and Sandylands basked in a glorious mid-summer afternoon for the "Skiptens", the inaugural "Tens" tournament hosted by Skipton RFC.

The competition attracted sides from throughout West Yorkshire in addition to Skipton's immediate neighbours of Keighley, Wharfedale and North Ribblesdale.

Tens is played along the lines of sevens but with five forwards and five backs per team, ten minutes each way, with the normal laws of rugby applying. A very high standard of play in the Pool rounds resulted in Plate semi-finals of Keighley v Skipton Blues and Wharfedale v Bradford and Bingley. The Cup semi-finals were North Ribblesdale v Bradford Salem and Hudderfield YMCA v West Park Leeds 2.

Wharfedale ran out winners over Keighley in the Plate Final, whilst Bradford Salem took the Cup beating Hudderfield YMCA 21-14 in the final.

Skipton President, Mel Mason, presented the trophies and thanked all concerned in the organisation of the day. This was a very enjoyable day's pre-season rugby which Skipton RFC hope to hold on an annual basis.