Yorkshire Vase

Skipton 5

Leeds Corinthians 10

by Simon Smith

AFTER last week's five-try defeat against Corinthians in the league, Skipton held the south Leeds side to just two tries but went down to defeat in a close Yorkshire Vase encounter at the weekend.

Early pressure from home side Skipton produced a strong run from Harry McEneaney at the base of the scrum, linking with full-back George Smithson, but a knock-on ended the move.

The home side gained a penalty for Corinthians holding on but the attempt at goal drifted wide. The visitors gained a penalty for the same offence in the next phase of play and put the ball into the corner.

Quick hands from the line-out saw the Corinthians full-back over for a well worked try, but the conversion attempt failed.

Although the sizeable home crowd feared a repeat of last week's game, Skipton had other ideas and began to dominate at the scrum, driving Corinthians off the ball.

The home side gained three successive penalties before the break for crossing, a high tackle and not releasing but were unable to convert these into points and the sides turned round with a one try advantage to the visitors.

Despite a good start to the second half, Skipton conceded a scrum close to their own line and Corinthians overcame robust defence to run in try number two. The conversion attempt again drifted wide.

Skipton then suffered a set back when No. 8 McEneaney had to retire injured, replaced by Mark Davison.

From a penalty kick into the corner, an infringement at the line-out gave Corinthians the put-in at the scrum but Skipton drove them back and took the ball against the head.

Coach Craig Bartlett brought Gareth Atkinson into the back row to augment the home side's increasing forward dominance.

A great break by Davison set up many phases of play, only to again end with a knock on. A fracas at the break down resulted in a yellow card for both sides, with Smithson leaving the field for Skipton.

A high tackle on Skipton prop Bailey Oliedam saw tempers flare and an elbow to Skipton forward Charlie Brown and retaliation saw a second yellow card for Corinthians and a red card for Brown.

Skipton's woe deepened when centre Mike McLachlan also had to leave the field injured but pocket rocket Jamie Carroll lifted the home crowd's spirits with an excellent try in the corner, after hard work through many phases of play. The touch line conversion went wide.

A knock-on at the re-start gave Skipton the scrum, and a great break down field by Oliedam brought them close, but time had run out and Corinthians won 10-5.