Aireborough 60 Skipton 3

Little is going right for rock-bottom Skipton as they slide towards relegation from Yorkshire Division Three..

Their young team had the misfortune to run into an Airebor-ough side still smarting from the 85-0 thrashing they suffered at Rotherham Phoenix the previous week and paid the price.

Once again there was no faulting their effort and determination but once their initial resistance was worn away the result was so frighteningly inevitable.

The first quarter was evenly contested and it took 22minutes for Aire to break the deadlock with a Will Tomlinson try from the base of a scrum near the Skipton line which was converted by Nick Holdsworth. Tomlinson repeated the feat eight minutes later when Holdsworth again added the conversion, to open up a 14-0 lead. Skipton showed great character and didn’t just roll over. They worked their way back into the game but were unable to open their account.

A penalty goal from Holdsworth made the half-time score 17-0 in Aireborough’s favour.

Skipton continued to create pressure at the start of the second half but their only reward was a penalty.

Their joy was cut short when they dropped the ball from the restart and were punished. Back rower Will Warrington broke down the middle of the field and an excellent pass to Holdsworth saw him cross the line and convert his own try. Five minutes later a break by Luke Exley sent prop Gareth Poole sprinting in at the corner. The floodgates were well and truly open as Skipton’s players tired.

Mark Druce scored a try converted by Holdsworth to extend the lead. The final ten minutes produced tries for Kris Brook following a ball-steal by Nick Jackson, a try to Druce, converted by Holdsworth and a try to Jackson following a quick tap penalty. In the final minute a Skipton kick down the field was collected on his 22 by full back Tony Clitheroe who outpaced the visitors’ defence to score, converted by Holdsworth.