Ossett 10 Skipton 27

SKIPTON'S bid to win promotion from Yorkshire Four is going down to the final game as both they and rivals Wensleydale both won.

Wensleydale defeated Hessle 28-17 and are two points ahead of the Sandylands outfit, but they have to play champions Halifax Vandals at home on Saturday while Skipton host Leeds Corinthians.

The Reds are perfectly placed if their rivals slip up, but even being in the promotion picture is a big achievement after their horrendous start to the season.

The trip to Ossett looked tricky as Skipton were without the injured duo of Liam Jordan and Luke Stockton while Jamie Donnelly was unavailable.

Skipton played up the slope and into the breeze in the first half. Second row Harry MacEneaney set his stall out with a text book tackle in the first few minutes and the Skipton forwards pushed Ossett off the ball in the first scrum.

Skipton gained an early penalty for Ossett offside which full back Matty Langstaff converted to open the scoring.

The Reds pushed Ossett off the ball for the second time, but the home side countered with a converted try to take the lead.

The response to the setback was positive. Excellent play by scrum-half Jonathan Kulik allowed Langstaff to chip through for centre Hamish Munro to score Skipton's first try.

Josh Smith was unlucky not to score from a charge down and opposite winger Josh Berrey made a great break but was brought down just short of the line.

Ossett countered with some strong running and forward play. They were rewarded with a penalty just before half-time which they converted to re-take the lead 10-8 at the break.

Skipton started the second half as they did the by winning a scrum against the head. The home side took the visitors' 22 from which both sides received a yellow card. It left Skipton without Langstaff for ten minutes.

Ossett then had the lion's share of possession despite playing up the slope, but a great break down the wing by Smith gave Skipton their second try, which was converted by stand-off Jake Duxbury.

Smith did the same a few minutes later and Skipton had established a 20-10 lead.

Ossett then exerted sustained pressure on the Skipton line but a try-saving tackle by man of the match Jack McLeod, standing in at full back in Langstaff's absence, forced the knock-on.

From a scrum ten yards out Langstaff, now back on the field, chipped through for Smith to score his third try and Skipton's fourth, securing the bonus league point. Duxbury added the extra points to seal Skipton's 27-10 victory.