Skipton 71 Sheffield Oaks 5

SKIPTON resumed their league programme with an emphatic 11-try victory over Sheffield Oaks at windswept Sandylands.

Skipton kicked off into the wind and the visitors took advantage with a series of long-range kicks into the corner, but excellent return work from the home fullback Matty Langstaff nullified the threat.

Gradually the driving forward work by forwards Connor Carver, Ben Hall and Charlie Brown put pressure on the visitors. A charge down by scrum half Stuart Barraclough gave Skipton their first try which was converted by Langstaff.

The game then ebbed and flowed with some good carries by Skipton second row Harry Maltby countered by the heavy Sheffield Oaks forwards. They forced a succession of rucks before scoring a well-worked try to reduce the deficit to 7-5.

Skipton coach Mark Walton made the first of a series of strategic interchanges by bringing on home-crowd favourite, Harry MacEneanie, who swiftly put Barraclough over for his second try.

Excellent interplay between the home side's forwards and backs followed from the restart and only a dropped last pass denied them a further try.

The kick through by Sheffield Oaks put Skipton right back on their own line but the half-time whistle went and the sides turned round at 12-5.

At the interval Walton introduced both second row Liam Jordan and centre Jon Currie to great effect.

A superb individual effort by Jordan gave him a try under the posts to increase the home side's lead to 17-5.

Not to be outdone, Currie then ran in a try himself to collect Skipton's bonus point. Langstaff added the extra points.

From the re-start the ball did not go the required ten yards and Skipton capitalised on the scrum back to gain good field position. From a resultant penalty the home side's No. 8 Ben Hall went over for their fifth try of the afternoon and the floodgates opened.

Six further tries followed. Two from Hamish Munro and one each from James Ackers, Luke Stockton, Carver and Josh Berrey, all converted by Langstaff to give a full-time score of 71-5 to the delight of the home crowd.