SKIPTON registered a comfortable eight try victory in the Aire-Wharfe Plate against a Bradford Salem second team who competed right up to the final whistle, to produce an entertaining game of rugby in difficult weather conditions.

Early pressure by Skipton saw second-row Brad Nicholson over but adjudged held-up. Continued pressure and a scrum against the head gave scrum-half Jake Emmison space and he was through the gap for Skipton's opening score of the evening. The wind and rain made place kicking extremely challenging, with only two of Skipton's eight tries being converted.

A charged down clearance kick by back-row Ed Harrison put Skipton back onto the front foot and second-row Harry Maltby was over for the home side's second try. The conversion attempt hit the post. Maltby was unlucky to be singled out for a yellow card after the home side were warned by the referee for going over the top, and Skipton went into the break with 14 men but a 10-0 lead.

Jonny Tomes-Green came into the Skipton side for the second half to replace winger Andy Maclean and immediately made his presence felt, going over from the ruck for Skipton's third try.

Tries then came from Skipper Hamish Munro and back-row Joe Hayes with full-back Lewis Reynoldson adding the extra points and Skipton had established a 27-0 lead.

Despite the weather, Skipton demonstrated some good ball handling and in the last 20 minutes further tries came from Joe Moorhouse, Jamie Carroll and Charlie Brown, who had the Sandylands' crowd cheering with an individual try from the re-start kick.

The conversion attempt for Carroll's try was good, to see Skipton safely through to the next round of the Plate with a 44-0 victory.