Skipton 96 Rotherham Clifton 0

SKIPTON'S Yorkshire Four promotion prospects were given a further boost with an emphatic 14-try victory at Sandylands on Saturday.

In-form winger Josh Smith led the rout with six tries while full back Matty Langstaff ran in four.

Skipton kicked off with a strong westerly wind behind them on an afternoon when the cold and wet conditions were far from ideal for good rugby.

A powerful opening run by stand off Liam Jordan gave the home side good field position and a scrum against the head gave the Skipton forwards confidence.

It was not long before Langstaff opened the scoring for the home side with a characteristic individual try. He added the extra points himself and the home crowd sensed a high-scoring game.

They were to be proved right as winger Smith ran in two tries in as many minutes, the first from quick hands from the scrum and the second from a break down the wing from the re-start.

Langstaff added the extra points both times and Skipton had established a 21-0 lead just 15 minutes into the game.

The bonus-point try arrived soon after when Skipton took line-out ball from Rotherham following a long kick downfield into the corner. Good passing put Langstaff in under the posts and he added his fourth conversion.

There was no respite for the visitors. Prop Chris Wright secured the restart and the ball was fed back to Langstaff.

A kick through enabled Smith to show his pace as he completed his hat-trick. Langstaff’s fifth successful conversion meant that Skipton were 35-0 up with just 30 minutes played.

When Rotherham gave away a penalty at a line-out in their own territory, Langstaff kicked through centre Jamie Donnelly won the chase to ground the ball.

Skipton extended their lead when back row Luke Stockton stole the ball from the next scrum and put Hall over for try number seven. Langstaff’s seventh successful conversion from seven attempts made it 49-0 at half-time.

Skipton began the second half as they had left off, with Langstaff opening their account immediately with a try under the posts, which he again converted.

Stockton followed with an unconverted try in the corner from a forward break. Skipton now had the bit between their teeth and two more tries came quickly from Smith, one from a scrum against the head. Both were converted by Langstaff.

Langstaff scored Skipton's 12th try from a clearance return with Donnelly this time adding the extra points.

Second row Rick Willsher put Smith clear for his sixth try with Donnelly again adding the extra points.

The final honours of the day went to replacement scrum-half Sam Brearley who scored a try on his debut. Donnelly’s conversion crowned Skipton’s win.