Skipton 58 Hessle 7

by Simon Smith

A BUMPER crowd saw Skipton maintain their position at the top of Yorkshire Four with a convincing ten-try victory over Humberside rivals Hessle.

Good forward work following a drive by flanker Tom Craven saw the ball go sweetly down the back line to put winger Hamish Munro over for an early try. A midfield break by centre Jamie Donnelly added a second try a few minutes later, with stand-off Carl Patterson adding the extra points.

Determined forward play from Hessle put them into the home side's 22 and further pressure put them over the line after a kick and chase. The try was converted but it was to be their only score of the game.

There then followed a period of hard forward exchanges with neither side gaining ground until just before half-time when flanker Connor Carver was put over for the home side after a well-worked backs move. The conversion attempt hit the post but Skipton were revitalised and Patterson ran in try number four on the stroke of half-time to secure the bonus point.

Carver was instrumental in try number five shortly after the break. He was brought down just a few yards short after a superb break but swiftly recycled the ball to put winger Jon Currie over. Patterson added the extra points.

Skipton took the next scrum against the head and the ball went straight down the line to Munro who fed inside to put Patterson over, who again added the extra points.

Skipton coach Dave Duxbury then made a few changes to the line up, including the welcome return of Charlie Brown to the forwards after injury last season and young Sam Brearley at scrum-half, with Jonathan Kulik moving out to stand-off.

Following a yellow card to Hessle for dangerous play, the Skipton forwards camped on the visitors' line and No 8 Harry MacEneaney went over for a try.

Referee Ian Brooksbank then began to use up his supply of yellow cards with Skipton prop Luke Currie receiving one for two high tackles and Hessle a second for a similar offence.

The visitors were now struggling and in the last few minutes of the game Patterson, Munro and full back Josh Crane ran in three more tries. Munro's try was converted by Kulik to give a final score of 58-7 to the home side.