Skipton 19 York RI 24

LEAGUE leaders Skipton surrendered a 14-point lead as they suffered only their second defeat of the season in a dour, hard-fought encounter at a bitterly cold Sandylands.

The home side got off to a flying start when winger Jamie Barker chased a chip through from full back Carl Patterson.

When the York RI winger fumbled the ball Barker touched down for the opening try. Patterson added the extra points.

Skipton came straight back at the visitors from the re-start and good forward pressure put the back line away with centre Hamish Munro securing an excellent individual try under the posts.

Patterson again converted and the home side had established a 14-0 lead.

Skipton pushed the visitors off the ball at the next scrum and gained a penalty which Patterson put into the corner.

However, the visitors forced a line-out infringement and began to gain the advantage in this area of the game.

They put pressure on Skipton's line resulting in a yellow card for home prop Luke Currie for a deliberate knock-on. From the penalty York RI went over with a forward drive but the ball was adjudged to have been held up.

Not to be denied, they made sure from the resulting five-yard scrum with a well-executed push-over try. The try was converted and the visitors had the bit between their teeth.

They came straight back at Skipton from the re-start and gained a second try within minutes, which was converted on the stroke of half-time to level the scores.

The visitors continued their dominance after the break and immediately put pressure on Skipton.

Good defensive tackling kept them out but the home side conceded a penalty for a shoulder charge which York RI converted to take the lead. Poor tackling then added to Skipton's woe, with a further try by the visitors from the re-start return, which they converted to extend their lead.

A chip through and chase by York RI nearly resulted in another try. Young Skipton scrum-half George Marshall got to the ball first but was concussed in the process and had to leave the field.

A late charge and determined play by Luke Currie, Liam Jordan and Harry McEneaney inspired the home side.

From a line-out in the corner Currie was held up just short. Skipton drove York RI off the ball in the scrum, and it was put out wide across the field for centre Jon Currie to run in Skipton's third try.

It was not enough and the visitors held on for a 24-19 win.