Battling Skipton knock holders Ilkley out of Yorkshire Shield (From Craven Herald)

Battling Skipton knock holders Ilkley out of Yorkshire Shield

9:04am Monday 28th November 2011 in Skipton By Warren Burnett

Skipton 11 Ilkley 5

Battling Skipton produced a rousing performance to knock holders Ilkley out of the Yorkshire Shield on Saturday in a match played in monsoon-like conditions at Sandylands.

They took the lead with two first-half penalties from stand-off Andrew Nicholson who was playing his last game before returning to Australia.

Ilkley scored a try from close range after strong pressure from their forwards shortly before half-time.

Skipton sealed their win with the only score of the second half when following a tightly controlled and rapidly moving line-out drive,Martin Murray broke and scored an unconverted try in the corner..

Skipton had to weather heavy Ilkley pressure in the last five minutes after Tom Keady was yellow carded and Patrick Murray was sent off.

• Full report and pictures in Thursday's Craven Herald