Skipton 20 Hemsworth 10

Skipton’s coaches Carl Watts and Mick Smith say they are relatively pleased with the progress in the Reds early competitive games.

This match simmered, but kept a healthy Sandylands crowd enthralled, and wondering when the pot would boil over. A cautious approach by Skipton saw them steadily build and nudge ahead with a Jeremy Hargreaves penalty.

That advantage was lost to a moment’s lapse in concentration which enabled Hems- worth to score a converted try.

The visitors’ continued rucking infringements led to another Hargreaves penalty just before half time.

Trailing 7-6 at the turn round all looked well for Skipton, with the visitors having to play into the wind and bright sunlight. The tactical failure of the home side to maximise these elements could have proved costly. The high and long ball was not used enough early in the half to test the Hemsworth defence and as a consequence the visitors grew in stature, able to contain most attacking options.

The visitors’ line was at last broken when hard charging Sam Harrison broke through and crashed over for what the crowd hoped was the first of many tries. Hargreaves added the two points.

The try-fest didn’t materialise and instead Hemsworth began to push forward. For the most part Skipton’s defence held firm conceding only a single penalty in the period of sustained pressure. This gave the visitors new heart, while at the same time started to set nerves jangling in the crowd. The Reds did stick to the cautious game plan laid down by the coaches and gradually re-asserted themselves on the game. Although the back line had been disrupted by the first-half injury to George Smith- son, Lee Shaw and James Tomlinson coped well out of position.

Late in the game Shaw sealed victory with a well-worked try which Har- greaves converted.

New second row Jonathan Gane and No 8 Sam Harrison have made an immediate impact.

Jonathan Gane secured good line-out ball while Harrison made repeated inroads with his powerful tackle-breaking bursts. Both are ably backed by no-nonsense Rick Wilsher and flankers Ben Hall and Michael Snowden, while Chris Lambert is a key figure in the front row.

The back division has had a fraught start to the year with Shaun Barraclough, Smithson and Alex Baldwin all suffering injuries. James Tomlinson has proved a useful asset, and while not the finished article, is already showing his finishing prowess on the wing.

Hargreaves is settling in well at full back adding an extra attacking dimension with his incursions into the back line, whilst also racking up invaluable points with the boot.

Prior to the game Skipton entertained the sponsors who have contributed towards the new strip for the 2013-14 season.

The senior shirts have been sponsored by Fusion Games, Herriots Hotel, Mastab’s Restaurant, Blue Sky Events, Strata Night Club, Eura Audit and A&G Plastics.

The Colts (u-18’s) shirts have been sponsored by Hunters (Proctor and Co) and The Boat House. Club sponsor Dobson Gaskets were also represented.