Yorkshire Division Four: Hornsea 7 Skipton 71

SKIPTON re-affirmed their position at the top of the table with an emphatic, 11-try victory over east-coast hosts Hornsea.

Colts Tom Harrison and Sam Barraclough joined their colleague Tom Huxley in the visitors' first-team squad, and were usefully employed by coach Dave Duxbury in the second half.

A beautifully calm and sunny afternoon greeted the sides at the Hollis Recreation Ground following Skipton's long journey, and the Reds were soon into action following good early line-out work by second row John Pickersgill. From a chargedown, he was rewarded with Skipton's opening try, fly half Carl Patterson adding the extra points.

A few minutes later, prop Luke Currie broke from a rolling maul and added Skipton's second try, again converted by Patterson.

Hornsea countered strongly but Patterson cleared to put the visitors back downfield.

Full back Matty Langstaff was brought down on Hornsea's 22 following a break but the home side knocked-on, and from the scrum the ball went quickly across field to put Langstaff in for try number three, which Patterson again improved.

From the re-start, centre Jamie Donnelly stole the ball at the breakdown and shipped it out to winger Jon Currie, who put the ball back inside to centre Ben Brearley, who crossed for try number four, securing the bonus point. Patterson again converted for a 28-0 lead, and, just before half-time, Reds' skipper Chris Sheehan was brought down a few yards short of the line following an excellent break but winger Josh Crane was on hand to collect the ball and touch down in the corner.

Skipton had the slight advantage of the slope in the second half but, to Hornsea's credit, they played some adventurous rugby and took the game to the visitors.

A clean break by Langstaff got Skipton back into scoring ways as they crossed the 40-point mark with try number six, and excellent ball-handling put No 8 Harry McEneaney over for try number seven, a try at pace by replacement winger Josh Smith taking Skipton to 54 points, with Patterson adding the conversions.

The game was effectively over but Hornsea did not give up and crossed the line twice but on both occasions the ball held up.

A great take at the line-out by Huxley almost put Harrison in for a debut try but the youngster was brought down just short.

Smith gained his second try and Skipton's ninth, following great forward work by McEneaney, with the sure boot of Patterson again adding the extra points.

Hornsea gained a well-deserved consolation try in the last ten minutes, which was a tribute to the spirit they had shown throughout.

But Skipton countered with two further tries before the final whistle, one from Patterson himself following great interplay between forwards and backs, with the final try of the afternoon going to Donnelly.

Man of the match for the visitors was McEneaney.