Hessle 12 Skipton 52

SKIPTON consolidated their position at the top of Yorkshire Four with a comfortable eight-try victory over their Humberside rivals.

A cool breeze off the Humber estuary made for difficult kicking conditions but stand-off Carl Patterson put an early Skipton penalty into the corner and the rolling maul from the line-out resulted in a further penalty under the posts.

Skipton opted for the scrum and after two phases of play winger Josh Smith was over for the first try. Patterson added the extra points.

The re-start went straight out. Skipton had the scrum back and a sweet kick from Patterson put them back down into the corner.

Prop Chris Wright stole the ball at the line-out and crashed over for try number two.

A clean run by Smith from the re-start and a neat cross-field chip through put opposite winger Jamie Barker over for try number three. Patterson again added the extra points.

Pressure by Hessle on the visitors from the re-start was cleared by an excellent touch-line kick by Barker. Hessle came back at Skipton again but Smith intercepted a loose pass and put full back Matty Langstaff away for Skipton's fourth try, securing the bonus point, with Patterson converting.

Hessle were awarded a penalty for Skipton handling on the ground but another interception, this time by Patterson, put centre Hamish Munro over for try number five. Patterson again added the extra points.

Munro was back in action a few minutes later chasing a chip through from Langstaff to touch down as Skipton established a 38-0 half-time lead.

An early penalty in the second half again put Skipton into the corner. A break from the scrum by No. 8 Harry McEneaney put the back line away with Munro going over for his third try. Patterson added the extra points to stretch the lead to 45-0.

Coach Dave Duxbury then made some changes, bringing Sam Brearley on at scrum-half to replace young George Marshall who had put in a very creditable debut performance for the first team.

Luke Daniels was given a chance in the front row, Zak Bullock replaced skipper Chris Sheehan at hooker and Jordan Wilson replaced Rick Wilshire in the pack.

The visitors then gave away four penalties on the trot. Two for offside and two for not rolling away at the break down.

The constant pressure on Skipton's line finally told with Hessle opening their account with an unconverted try.

Following a lightning recovery of a loose ball by Wilson, replacement scrum-half Brearley went over for Skipton's eighth try. Patterson again added the extra points.

Hessle took advantage of the changes to the Skipton forwards and began to dominate in the scrum as the game drew to a close. They twice wheeled the Skipton pack and a late charge gave them a second try.

Their stand-off added the extra points but it was too little, too late.