Skipton make it nine wins on the trot as they beat Burley

by Simon Smith

SKIPTON faced a sterner test than in recent weeks as they extended their Yorkshire Four winning run to nine matches.

Skipton played up the slope in the first half and knew they had to keep Burley out to ensure a reasonable chance of success after the turn round.

Good work by back row forward Luke Stockton and an excellent run up field by centre Jon Currie gave the large crowd of travelling supporters encouragement, but two penalties for Skipton infringements put the home side down field again.

A forced knock-on from a text book tackle by wing forward Matty Wilson gave Skipton the put in at the resulting scrum and the Skipton forwards worked the ball up the slope.

Clean ball was quickly fed down the back line to winger Jack McLeod then into the forwards but a knock-on ended the play without a score.

A penalty to Burley late in the first half put them 3-0 ahead, but great forward work from the re-start put Skipton back upfield and a quickly-taken penalty gave full back Matty Langstaff a clear run to the line. Langstaff added the extra points and the sides turned round with Skipton 7-3 up.

Skipton were soon on the attack in the second half and two tap penalties followed by a scrum ten yards out put centre Currie through.

He was held up short of the line but the ball was re-cycled and shipped out to Josh Smith on the wing who went over in the corner for Skipton's second try.

From the re-start Burley worked the ball up field and passed it quickly along the back line to gain a try in the corner of their own.

The try was not converted and the game was finely balanced at 12-8 in Skipton's favour.

Expansive running play from Langstaff, Currie and stand-off Liam Jordan put Skipton back down field where they won the put in at a scrum on Burley's 22.

The ball went along the backs to put Smith in under the posts, after a gazelle-like jump over a tackle, to the roar and applause of the away supporters. Langstaff added the extra points.

Burley gained a penalty for a Skipton offside but the home side knocked on. Skipton cleared their line from the scrum.

Skipton conceded a string of penalties in the last five minutes and had to withstand wave after wave of Burley attacks on their line but the visitors' defence held firm.