WITH Burley and Skipton lying fourth and fifth respectively in Yorkshire Three, Saturday's game was always going to be a closely contested encounter and so it proved to be, with Burley eventually edging the game by three tries to two.

Early pressure on Skipton's line saw Burley over but the ball was knocked-on before it was grounded. Skipton responded with a good break by centre Anthony Chapman who put Hamish Munro at full-back clear, but this time a knock-on by Skipton ended the move.

Burley had a pacey set of backs who swiftly put the ball out wide from the scrum to go over for their first try. The conversion attempt was good.

Skipton dominated the line-out with excellent takes by Jordan Wilson and Edward Harrison but, despite stealing three successive line-outs, could not convert possession into points. Burley's second try came from their next scrap of possession when their extremely sharp and pacey stand-off spotted half a gap and was through. The conversion attempt again was good.

Skipton were undeterred and by no means out of the game. Strong forward play took the home side to Burley's line and scrum-half Jake Emmison was over for Skipton's opening try from a scrum five metres out. Centre Callum Patrick added the extra points.

Burley conceded a penalty from the re-start which Skipton put into the corner but the throw-in at the line was deemed not straight and the sides went into the break with Burley leading 14-7.

The home side started the second-half well. Aaron Tattersall came on to replace Tom Allsop at prop and Joe Moorhouse replaced Carl Nicholson in the pack. Burley picked up a yellow card for persistent off-side. Skipton put the penalty into the corner and Tattersall was over for Skipton's second try from the rolling maul. The conversion attempt drifted wide.

Moorhouse picked up a yellow card himself and Skipton Coach Carl Watts brought Sam Brearley into the back-line to replace Josh Nkwo, who had picked up an injury, and Tom Creasey into the second row to replace Harry Maltby.

The game was very even, with the score at 14-12 to Burley but pace by the visitors put the ball out wide again and they out flanked the Skipton defence to run in try number three. The conversion attempt fell short.

The visitors then picked up a second yellow card for handling on the ground. Skipton put the kick into the corner but no points resulted from the line-out. Skipton veteran Shaun Barraclough came on to replace Emmison at scrum-half and the home side maintained the pressure on Burley with two great breaks coming close. The home side then took a scrum against the head and spun the ball down the line but an adjudged forward pass ended the move and the referee blew for full-time.

A frustrating afternoon for Skipton, with the sides remaining at fourth and fifth place in the division. Man of the match for Skipton was centre Anthony Chapman.