SKIPTON made it five on the trot with a close, hard fought 17-15 victory at Burley at the weekend.

Skipton dominated the first ten minutes, retaining possession and putting intense pressure on the Burley line, but an interception against the run of play showed the home side's strength lay in the speed of their back three, and the ball was shipped out to the right wing who ran the length of the field for the opening score of the game. The try was converted.

Skipton came straight back at the opposition with more of the same. A penalty for going over the top knocked them back but Burley's line-out throw was not straight. Skipton gained a penalty from the scrummage and hooker Charlie Brown was over for the visitors' first try. Winger Lewis Reynoldson added the extra points to level the scores.

Burley's back three spelt danger every time they got the ball in hand, and only a try saving bundle into touch by Reynoldson and Skipper Hamish Munro prevented further points. Skipton conceded a penalty on their own line, which was converted to give the home side a 10-7 lead going into the break.

The second-half did not start well for Skipton, with a harsh yellow card for centre Tom Handforth for a high tackle which, from the touch-line, looked marginal at best.

Ryan Binner came on to replace Tom Allsop in the visitors' front row and Josh Taylor replaced Miff Smith in the back-row.

Some good strong running from Skipton followed, with a great break and pass inside by Munro only being ended by a knock-on. Skipton's new South African signing, prop Damian Glaus, had two great individual runs, being brought down just yards short each time. Second-row Brad Nicholson was over, but failed to ground the ball.

Skipton piled on the pressure with some well worked back moves. Handforth was clear and over in the corner but again failed to ground the ball. The travelling away supporters began to get nervous but Skipton kept their heads up, went again, and second-row Harry Maltby was over for their second try. Reynoldson added the extra points to put the visitors ahead by 10-14.

Skipton scrum-half Jake Emmison received a yellow card for retaliation, after suffering provocation all match, and winger Sam Brearley stepped into the number 9 position. Burley seized their chance, piled the pressure on the visitors and were over for their second try with four minutes to go. The conversion attempt drifted wide but the game seemed up for Skipton at 15-14.

Skipton had other ideas. They gained a penalty for Burley feeding at the re-start scrum, and put the ball into the corner. The forwards held onto the ball for many phases from the line-out, slowly creeping forward. Burley went over the top, giving Skipton a penalty in front of the posts. Reynoldson slotted the ball with the last kick of the game, giving Skipton their fifth win in a row.