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Skipton get back to winning ways
West Park Leeds 7 Skipton 26
The Reds were back on track in their promotion campaign with a good sound win against Bramhope based West Park.
West Park are surprise relegation candidates this season but are never easy opposition particularly at home and whilst Skipton always looked like winning this was a tough competitive match with both sides wanting to win.
Skipton fielded a much changed side with five of last week's team out with injury but such is the strength of the squad that this was still a united experienced team with all departments in top form and it was particularly good to see Matty Wilson and Iain Sneddon back in the fray as the forward flankers and both worked tirelessly all afternoon. The experiment of moving Sam Boatwright out of the pack to No 9 worked well and his efforts linked with the experienced Sean Kennedy at No10 ensured that the speedy backs had plenty of ball this week and this upped the scoring rate.
The Reds got off to a dream start by scoring a try within seconds! Darren Howson's kick-off caught the hosts napping, Jon Dillon collected the ball and centre James Burke sped in for a try to give Skipton a 5-0 lead on the first move of the game. Although Howson missed the conversion he was, otherwise, in good kicking form and three successful penalty kicks later in the first half put Skipton 14-0 in the lead by half-time.
In the first half West Park were using their strong experienced pack to advantage but Skipton's forwards were in superb form all day with props Phil Crossman and James Riches outstanding and the two 6.8ft Willsher brothers ensuring plenty of ball in the line out.
Early in the second half a forwards move saw Riches making ground and Howson was there to finish off with a try to take the score to 19-0 to the Reds.
Skipton were then temporarily depleted with Kennedy off with a yellow card and Howson off with a blood injury and West Park took their chance to score a converted try. This was a rare breach of Skipton's otherwise infallible defence and Lee Battle was always ready as the calm experienced full back albeit the whole team had ensured that the last line of defence was rarely needed.
The best try of the day came towards the end when speedy winger Liam Ray, faced with three defenders, chipped forward, re-caught the ball and sped over for an excellent try under the post. Ray was in top form all day. Howson easily converted and Skipton took the points with a 26-7 win.
In the league the only other game played saw third placed Yarnbury lose to Old Brods and this enabled Skipton to strengthen their hold on the second promotion spot.
11:10am Monday 25th February 2008
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