Sloppy Skipton slip up against bottom side (From Craven Herald)

Sloppy Skipton slip up against bottom side

10:44am Thursday 5th April 2012 in Skipton

Skipton 14 Moortown 25

After beating Ripon the previous week to all but guarantee their place in Yorkshire Division Two, Skipton produced a sloppy performance to lose to the bottom team.

From the kick-off Skipton started badly, indecisiveness from the Reds allowed the visitors to work their way towards the home line.

Referee John Eyre awarded Moortown a penalty as they went 3-0 up after five minutes.

From the restart, the kick from Alex Naylor was collected by centre Jonathon Richards who passed the ball out quickly to allow No.8 Patrick Murray to force his way over the try line.

Naylor’s successful conversion established a 7-3 lead.

The advantage was short lived. Moortown responded immediately to regain the lead with a great try from their three quarters which they also converted.

Again from the restart ball was won by Skipton and was worked up to the Moortown line and after several moves a quick tap penalty, by scrum half Michael Smith earned him a try.

Naylor converted to push Skipton 14-10 ahead, but it was to prove to be their final score of the game.

Moortown's second try was scored wide out by winger Jackson who was adjudged to have stayed in play to touch down.

Moortown had a single point advantage at the break.

The second half was even but it was Moortown who took their chances.

An unconverted try after 20 minutes looked to have set them up for the win and as much as Skipton tried they could not breach the Moortown defence.

Then to cap a bad day for Skipton, Moortown added a further try with five minutes to play.

Overall this was a disappointing team performance from Skipton.

There were some good individual performances but there needed to be more team play.

Gavin Akers-Johnson made a welcome return from university, meanwhile Jonny Moore was the man of the match.

Rick Willsher had a good game but it was sad to see Liam Ray off again with a shoulder injury.

Skipton tackle Division Two high-flyers Barnsley in a Yorkshire Shield quarter-final tie on Saturday.