Skipton 3 Aireborough 7

A LOSING bonus point was all Skipton could take away from a very tight Yorkshire Three game at Sandylands.

They kicked-off into the wind but conceded an early penalty and, against the home crowd's expectations, Aireborough spun the ball from the line-out for an early try by the posts. The successful conversion gave them a 7-0 lead.

Excellent interplay between forwards and backs put Skipton winger Josh Berrey away, with a penalty being awarded to the home side resulting from the break-down.

Skipton opted for the scrum and a slick move along the back line was only thwarted when they conceded a penalty for an offence at the breakdown.

Coach Craig Bartlett brought number eight Harry McEneaney and prop Ryan Binner into the pack and Skipton gained a series of penalties for infringements and deliberate knock-ons by Aireborough.

Despite hard work by the forwards, the home side couldn't gain ground but a further penalty just before half-time for Aireborough not releasing incurred the wrath of the referee and the visitors received their first yellow card of the afternoon.

Good early pressure from Skipton from the re-start gave them a penalty for an Aireborough high tackle. The attempt at goal was not successful but Skipton had territory and replied from the 22 drop out with winger Jack McLeod being bundled into touch in the corner.

Full-back Matty Langstaff made sure with a second penalty attempt a few minutes later, to claw back three points.

Young Sam Brearley came on at scrum-half for the home side together with Josh Smith on the wing. Robust play lead to a second yellow card for Aireborough, for a dangerously high tackle on Skipton hooker Charlie Brown.

Although Skipton had the best of the last 20 minutes, they were cruelly denied two tries, with winger Joe Gill going over in the corner but being pulled back by the referee for an earlier infringement.

A last break by winger Josh Smith was pulled back for the same reason, leaving both the home side and home crowd exasperated and wondering what might have been.

A late penalty for Aireborough not retreating ten yards came to nothing and the game ended with a disappointing defeat for the home side.

Skipton visit Hemsworth on Saturday.