Leeds Corinthians 13 Skipton 20

SKIPTON were made to fight hard for the victory which keeps them at the top of Yorkshire Four.

The Reds got off to a flying start with a try from scrum-half Sam Brearley after just three minutes.

A strong counter attack by the home side produced some good defensive work by Skipton including a text-book tackle by stand-off Jamie Donnelly, but resulted in a penalty to Corinthians which they converted to claw back three points.

Following a turn-over, Matty Langstaff placed a Skipton penalty into the corner where the line-out ball was well taken by second-row John Pickersgill.

The forwards drove on but no points resulted. From a penalty at the breakdown Langstaff went for goal and increased the visitors' lead to 8-3.

A good return kick from the restart by Matty Ray - this week starting at full back - placed the ball down field.

Second-row Rick Wilshire stole Corinthians' throw-in at the line-out and the ball went down the back line where, from re-cycled ball, Langstaff chipped through and touched down for the second try.

Minor ill-discipline by Skipton before half-time, including handling on the floor, gave Corinthians two penalty attempts at goal, one of which was converted, and the sides turned round with Skipton leading 13-6.

Skipton had the advantage of the slope in the second half but Corinthians pinned them back and the visitors had to defend on their own line.

Winger Josh Smith cleared the danger but had to leave the field with a recurring neck injury picked up in the first game of the season.

Crash ball by forward Harry MacEneaney set up good field position. From a line-out in the corner the Skipton forwards drove on but couldn't cross the line.

A yellow card for a Corinthians centre for persistent offside gave Skipton another kick into the corner. From the line-out the forwards drove flanker Tom Craven over for the third try. Carl Patterson added the extra points and Skipton had established a 20-6 lead.

A turn-over and break by Connor Carver put MacEneaney clear and from a penalty at the break down Skipton again had a line-out in the corner but no further points were forthcoming.

Sustained pressure from Corinthians in the last ten minutes gave them a converted try and a final score of 20-13 to visitors.