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Leodensians 16 Skipton 17

Saturday was a day of celebration for the Reds when they gained promotion to Yorkshire Division 1for the first time ever and next season they will be playing at their highest level since the league system started.

Having gained promotion from Division 3 only last year, they have stormed through Division 2 this season and have occupied one of the promotion places since the very first game of the season way back in September.

Saturday's game was far from pretty being a tense dour struggle played in torrential rain. Nevertheless the Reds, cheered on by a large contingent of travelling Skipton supporters who outnumbered the home crowd, just scraped the vital clinching win. After the final whistle it was learned that the only threat to promotion posed by Yarnbury had evaporated because they had lost their game at Dinnington and so Skipton could uncork the champagne and celebrate. Indeed it was a triumphant team who returned home to be toasted at Sandylands at the annual club dinner which, by coincidence, was on Saturday evening.

As for the game itself, the result was the closest of the season and, like in recent weeks, the Reds were again facing a team threatened with relegation fighting hard to survive. The atrocious conditions favoured Leos strong pack playing in home territory and they posed a constant threat to Skipton's ambitions.

Leos were quickly off the mark with a try which temporarily but them 5-0 ahead but this woke up the Reds and in the first half Skipton looked comfortable. Forward Moa Meki, a welcome sight back from injury, forced over for the Reds first try and with Brydon Maiava slotting over the conversion Skipton took the lead at 7-5.

This was followed by a try from centre Maiava and although the conversion was missed a good scoreline was building with Skipton now 12-5 in the lead.

Just before half-time Leos succeeded with a penalty kick and at half time it was 12-8. Tight, but at least Skipton were in the lead.

Because of the weather the referee took the minimum break and Leos seemed more alert as the second half started. Soon they had a try in the bag and then another penalty kick and Skipton were on the back foot with Leos now 16-12 in front.

But the Reds moved up a gear and once again Maiava was there to rescue the situation and his second try put the Reds back in front with the tightest margin of 17-16.

A super backs move then saw Sean Kennedy and Liam Ray sprinting for the line with only one defender to beat. 50/50 chance of scoring but the final Leos defender read the situation correctly and got his man just short of the line and the chance of Skipton pulling away was lost.

The final ten minutes were painful for the tense Skipton crowd of supporters and when Leos were awarded a penalty kick in injury time all could have been lost. Great relief when the kick was missed and the Reds knew the promotion was theirs.

Skipton can now enjoy the final two games of the season without pressure. On April 12 they are away at league Champions Old Brodleians and then the final game on April 19 is at home against North Ribblesdale.

11:36am Monday 31st March 2008

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