Skipton RU
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Promotion spot in on the horizon for Reds
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| Skipton's Liam Ray gives chase for the ball in Saturday's game against Yarnbury watched by the home side's Richard Lister. |
AN excellent win over promotion rivals Yarnbury last Saturday has seen Skipton RFC increase their hopes of securing the second promotion spot to hopefully play in Yorkshire League Division One next season for the first time ever.
After a week's break due to the winter weather, Skipton bounced back with a crucial 18-7 win over third-placed Yarnbury at Brownberrie Lane with tries from Liam Ray and Sean Kennedy with Brydon Maiava adding one conversion and two penalties.
It was a welcome return from injury for the 28 year-old former North Ribblesdale player Kennedy who was making his first competitive appearance of the season.
His return is crucial as the Reds battle to gain the remaining promotion place behind an Old Brods team which is taking the league by storm having a 100 per cent record with 15 wins out of 15 games.
Skipton are six points adrift in second place with 24 points while Yarnbury and Pocklington are both on 20 points, although both have played an extra game over the Reds so the gap could extend to six points with only seven league games left.
Skipton spokesman Richard Mashiter said: "Brods clearly look like champions being still unbeaten and they, along with Skipton, have occupied the two promotion places since the first game of the season.
"With promotion chasers Yarnbury and Pocklington both losing last Saturday, prospects of Skipton playing in Division One next season for the first time ever are looking good and the Reds deserve all the support they can get in these final few weeks of the season."
Skipton have won 12 and lost three of their league games this season. The defeats came at the hands of Ripon, 11-3 away from home; league leaders Old Brods, 19-7 at home; and Pocklington, 32-17 away.
In their quest for promotion Skipton have yet to play second bottom Dinnington at home this Saturday, February 16, Goole away on March 1, Knottingley at home on March 8, Old Leodiensians away on March 29, Old Brodleians away on April 12 and local rivals North Ribblesdale at home on April 19.
Skipton made an excellent start to the season before a mid-term blip hit their promotion plans but now with Sean Kennedy back in harness with the vastly experienced Adam Oldfield at half-back a touch of class has returned to the side's creativity.
Both players have wide experience, scrum-half Oldfield having previously been with Wharfedale and fly-half Kennedy with North Ribblesdale.
Mashiter said: "Another plus for the Reds is the form of Kiwi centre Brydon Maiava who just gets better and better each week both as a kicker and as a strong running centre."
Skipper Darren Howson, who has had previous experience with Bradford Salem, will be looking to harness all the talents of his side as they make this final push for promotion.
As well as his experienced players he has rising young stars such as Ryan Binner to rely on.
Binner came in for his first full game against Yarnbury and the young prop worked like a Trojan throughout.
He is expected to be a vital component in the Reds' future and is well thought of at the club.
So another chapter could be ready to be written into the history of a club who go back over 125 years at Sandylands.
After faltering a little in December they have slowly but surely been getting back into their best form which proved so successful in the opening stages of the season.
They play as a cohesive unit with strong, solid forwards, intelligent half-backs and fast, open running backs - a combination which should see them fulfil their ambitions come the end of the season.
They have pulled together an excellent squad utilising all the players to gain success.
South Yorkshire side Dinnington visit Sandylands on Saturday and although they have won their last two games they have otherwise been having a mediocre season.
The Reds will be hoping for a good win to cement further their promotion push.
Not surprisingly, Skipton field the same team as last week - the only change being Mark Battle coming in on the wing in place of Jon Dillon.
The selected team is; L Battle; M Battle, Howson, Maiava, Ray; Kennedy, Oldfield; Firth, Petterd, Binner, M Willsher, M Boatwright, S Boatwright, Snowden, Meki. Repl. Burke, Davison, R Willshire.
2:33pm Thursday 14th February 2008
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