Skipton 22 Old Otliensians 27

SKIPTON suffered a narrow home defeat to Old Otliensians in Yorkshire 3 but will take some comfort after securing losing and try-scoring bonus points.

The visitors were dominant in the opening exchanges and a stolen ball at the line-out spelt danger for Skipton as fast ball down the back line gave Otliensians the opening try.

Skipton hit back through a bursting run from winger George Smithson. He had the home crowd on their feet as he put scrum-half Jack McLeod over for Skipton's first try.

The home side then conceded a penalty for offside on their own 22. Although an excellent cover tackle by centre Luke Daniel snuffed out the move, Otliensians re-grouped and were over for a second unconverted try.

Skipton then suffered a blow with centre Jon Currie receiving a yellow card for a high tackle. A wheeled scrum gave Skipton a penalty but a missed ball on the counter attack gave Otliensians a third try.

It was then the visitors turn to receive a yellow card, again for a high tackle, but Skipton could not take advantage, and found themselves 15-5 behind at the break.

Otliensians piled on the pressure after the interval with another unconverted try from a rolling maul. Skipton continued to make positives breaks forward in response but continually failed to turn pressure into points during this dominant spell.

However, some excellent forward work put Skipton prop Luke Currie clear. He fed winger Josh Berrey who was over for Skipton's second try. The touchline conversion attempt by Munro hit the post.

The visitors came back though with another converted try from a line-out following a penalty kick into the corner.

The visitors received another yellow card and Skipton took advantage from the resulting penalty. Hooker Charlie Brown's clever line-out throw put Luke Currie away and he went over for try number three. Munro added the extra points.

A cross field kick in the dying minutes of the game was collected by Jon Currie who was over for Skipton's all-important fourth try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but Skipton had earned those two vital league points.