Leaders Barnsley give injury-hit Skipton the chop (From Craven Herald)

Leaders Barnsley give injury-hit Skipton the chop

8:59am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Skipton By Warren Burnett

Barnsley 58 Skipton 7

Skipton travelled to high-flying Barnsley for their first league match of 2012, buoyed by the fact that in the corresponding fixture in September they had only lost by two points.

With the long-term injury list growing, Skipton fielded a re-arranged backline with hooker Matt Speres deputising at inside centre, and Jonny Moore reverting to fly half – a position he adopted on rare occasions at junior rugby.

From the off Skipton were on the defensive as Barnsley instigated a game plan based on the power of their juggernaut pack which was spearheaded by the aggressive ball carrying ability of their No. 8.

Skipton’s cause was not helped by being bulldozed off their own ball at the scrummage, and failing to win clean ball at the line-out.

Skipton’s only ball was generated from mistakes by Barnsley, particularly the backs which was efficiently capitalised on by centres Speres and Hamish Munro and resulted in genuine line breaks.

Barnsley opened the scoring when their back row muscled their way over the line after a powerful scrum near the Skipton line.

In the build-up to this try Skipton were dealt a severe blow as both flanker Matty Wilson and centre Speres left the field with injuries which could sideline them for a considerable period.

However Skipton’s riposte was immediate.

Winger Lucas Wootton rounded his man and cut back inside to feed Andy Maclean who sealed his first- team debut with a try following a neat sidestep.

This was a deserved reward for Maclean who regularly displays dedicated commitment at training and passionate performances for the second team.

On the half hour mark the score remained 7-7, then Barnsley began to pull away.

Skipton never mitigated the ball carrying ability of the Barnsley forwards.

The lack of set piece ball hurt and the re-arranged backline began to creak defensively.

The second half continued in a similar vein, and Skipton’s cause worsened as centre Hamish Munro left the field with a shoulder injury which required hospitalisation, and wingman Liam Ray went off injured with ten minutes remaining So Skipton commenced 2012 with a lack-lustre performance and picked up four serious injuries.

However some positives remain namely, in the defensive performance of Moore.

He yopped the tackle count for the Reds and was their most aggressive ball carrier.

Flanker Martin Murray also produced a battling display which included playing the majority of the second half at centre.

It would be easy to attribute this defeat to the injuries sustained to key players, but the low levels of commitment, focus, and above all passion were more significant.

These qualities will be required if Skipton are to obtain a positive outcome in the rest of the season.