Baildon 23 Skipton 13

SKIPTON came away empty handed from a dour Yorkshire Three game at a cold and overcast Jenny Lane.

Despite playing some expansive and entertaining rugby in the second half, handling errors cost the visitors dear with knock-ons giving possession back to the home side.

The game started with an exchange of penalties with neither side gaining an advantage.

At the second scrum of the game Skipton hooker Charlie Brown struck like a hooker of old and went on to win three successive put-ins against the head.

The referee appeared determined to ensure that the side which put the ball in won the scrum and found a reason on each occasion to re-set the scrum.

A dour, hard fought, ten minutes ensued until the Baildon left wing slipped the Skipton defence for an early try.

A second try for the home side soon followed before an excellent re-start return by Skipton No. 8 Harry McEneaney led to a Skipton penalty for the home side not releasing.

The visitors' stand-off Lee Neha converted to put Skipton on the scoresheet.

An interception by Neha in the next phase of play put Skipton winger Jamie Carroll away.

He was bundled into touch in the corner but a sweet move from the line-out put full-back Matty Langstaff over in the opposite corner and the sides turned round at 10-8 to the home side.

Baildon were awarded a penalty for a Skipton high tackle early in the second half, which they converted to stretch their lead.

A well worked move with excellent inter-passing by the home side a few minutes later gave them a third converted try.

Skipton coach Craig Bartlett sent on winger Josh Smith to replace Liam Jordan.

The visitors took the ball against the head from a Baildon scrum ten metres from the home side's line and scrum-half Alex Baldwin was over in the corner but was adjudged by the referee to have been held up.

From the scrum, a knock-on denied Skipton again and Baildon put the ball down field.

Prop Luke Currie was injured behind the goal line and had to leave the field but Baildon were awarded the penalty, which they slotted over to increase their lead.

Skipton went up a gear and played their best rugby of the game. A quick tap penalty by Baldwin gave the ball to Neha who linked with centre Hamish Munro to put Smith over for Skipton's second try.

A late run by Smith saw him bundled into touch and subjected to unnecessary roughness. A brawl ensued and the final whistle brought to an end a depressing afternoon.