Skipton RU
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Lethargic Skipton lose to struggling Dinnington
Skipton 13 Dininnington 17
No excuses. This was a poor display by Skipton. The high-flying Reds looked lethargic whilst Dinnington, desperate to stave off relegation at the other end of the table, were full of initiative and energy and deserved to collect the winning points.
Skipton could claim that injuries to key players during the game affected them and a mid-game delay of 20 minutes because of an injury to the referee did not help.
However the reality was that Skipton started too well. After five minutes they were already 7-0 up and seemed to assume that they would coast to an easy win but when the visitors seized their chances in the second half it left Skipton with red faces as well as red jerseys.
Skipton's opening score made them look at their best. From the kick off, the forwards had been driving towards the line and then, from a scrum, Adam Oldfield released a quick ball to the backs, Brydon Maiava was ready to burst through in the centre and Darren Howson was on hand to touch down. Safely converted by Maiava and the Reds were seven points up after five minutes.
But then the first half became tedious with no more scoring.
Gradually Dinnington were getting into their stride and Skipton's habit of kicking forward into their hands instead of finding touch merely encouraged them to attack back.
This meant the Reds devoting time to defence rather than creating scoring opportunities. However Skipton were still 7-0 in the lead at half-time.
Just before half-time the game was delayed for 20 minutes because the referee left the field with a muscle injury.
This could well have caused the game to be abandoned but as a suitable referee was to hand in charge of a second team game on an adjacent field he was pressed into service.
The relevance of this was that the 20-minute delay, plus half-time, seemed to send Skipton to sleep in the sunshine.
As soon as the second half started the visitors attacked and sloppy Skipton defence allowed Dinnington to run in two quick tries and with both tries converted Skipton were stunned to find themselves 14-7 down.
By now the Reds looked in disarray and with influential forwards Michael Snowden and Moa Meki coming off with injuries and Adam Odlfield also having been replaced at half-time all replacements were already on the field.
However, from then on Skipton woke up again and all credit to the 15 players who strove to rescue the situation.
Two successful penalty kicks by Howson got the score back to a nail biting 13-14 and the three replacements stood out well in this fight back; James Burke at scrum half, "Davo" Davison at his warhorse best and Rick Willsher superbly jumping for ball in the line out.
So nearly Skipton pulled it back and possibly, had they got the ball out wide to the likes of speedy Liam Ray instead of thrusting up the middle of the field, they would have succeeded.
In the dying seconds of the game, Dinnington needed to clinch it and this they did in style with a long range dropped goal.
Their victory of 17-13 was much deserved and good luck to them as they do not deserve relegation on this showing.
As for the league, Skipton are still in second place and in possession of a promotion slot. Pocklington lost again and so only Yarnbury are really threatening the Reds.
With just six games remaining, Division One remains a real prospect for Skipton - but there is no room for any more "off days".
10:47am Monday 18th February 2008
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