Skipton 17 Wensleydale 15

SKIPTON progressed to the last four in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy in a hard-fought encounter at a wet and windy Sandylands.

It means they will now visit coach Dave Duxbury's old club Baildon on March 18.

Wensleydale had the heavier pack which they used to good effect, driving the Skipton forwards back on several occasions.

Importantly, the home side were superior at the breakdown and in defensive tackling which began to tell as the game wore on.

The wet conditions made ball handling difficult and Skipton got off to a nervous start with two early knock-ons giving Wensleydale the advantage. An early penalty to the visitors for a high tackle hit the crossbar and a try- saving tackle by winger Josh Smith kept the visitors at bay.

Eventually the pressure on Skipton's line told and Wensleydale went over for a pushover try, with their stand-off adding the extra points.

The home side then began to settle into the game and an excellent chip through, gather and off-load by centre Hamish Munro put Smith away.

He was brought down just short but the forwards gathered the ball and drove, putting second row Jordan Wilson over for a well-deserved try.

Full back Matty Langstaff added the extra points with a well-taken conversion to level the scores.

Wensleydale exerted more pressure on Skipton's line from the re-start but superb defensive tackling from the home side kept them at bay.

Wensleydale then gained a penalty for Skipton not binding properly in the scrum.

They opted for another scrum but were unable to capitalise on it. They received a second penalty a few minutes later for offside and this time opted for goal.

The penalty was converted on the stroke of half-time as the visitors established a slender 10-7 lead.

Skipton knocked-on from the re-start in the windy conditions but recovered the ball at the scrum and a long-range clearance kick from Langstaff put the home side down field.

An excellent break from the ruck by back row Luke Daniel put Langstaff away for Skipton's second try. Langstaff again added the extra points as Skipton took the lead.

The home side had to make an enforced substitution when scrum half Jonathan Kulik sustained a knee injury and had to leave the field.

He was replaced by Jack McLeod who had himself left the field earlier with a blood injury caused by a torn ear.

Wensleydale were awarded a further penalty for another Skipton high tackle, which they put into the corner. They moved the ball through several phases of play from the line-out and went over in the opposite corner for their second try to edge one point ahead.

The sides then exchanged a series of penalties with no points forthcoming until Skipton gained a penalty for Wensleydale going over the top at the ruck.

Dissent from the visitors to the referee gave Skipton an additional ten yards and put the penalty within kickable range. Langstaff made sure of the goal and the home side edged 17-15 ahead.

Skipton then defended with determination for the last ten minutes. They were awarded a penalty on the stroke of full-time for Wensleydale going over the top.

The attempt at goal was not successful but it was of no consequence. The game was won 17-15 to set up an away tie against coach Dave Duxbury's old club.