YORKSHIRE THREE

Skipton 27

Leeds Modernians 17

SKIPTON came back with four tries after being 14-0 down to record a comfortable bonus point win at a bitterly cold Sandylands on Saturday.

Modernians kicked off with the easterly wind behind them and a knock-on by Skipton gave them an early scrum on the home side's 22.

Nothing resulted from the put-in but a high tackle by Skipton gave them a tap penalty and chip through by their stand-off, leading to a chase and early converted try.

The visitors then starved Skipton of possession for the first 15 minutes of the game and ran in a second converted try.

Skipton maintained their composure and, from a scrum following a 22 drop out, full-back George Smithson opened the scoring for the home side with a great individual try. The conversion attempt went astray in the wind.

From the re-start, Modernians gained a penalty for Skipton not rolling away and slotted the kick to stretch their lead to 17-5, but it was to be their last score of the game.

Skipper Hamish Munro took an interception in the breeze and scored a break away try under the posts. Stand-off Yvarne Carroll added the extra points and Skipton had reduced the deficit to 17-12.

A great break from the base of the scrum by No. 8 Mark Davison saw him bundled into touch just short.

Smithson had to leave the field just before half-time with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Skipton coach Craig Bartlett.

Davison was back in action straight after the break, picking up from the base of the scrum and feeding winger Jamie Carroll, who was unlucky to be bundled out of play.

Modernians conceded a penalty at the line-out, and Skipton opted for the scrum and Davison touched down for a push-over try. The conversion attempt was just wide of the posts but Skipton had levelled the scores at 17 all.

Jamie Carroll made a superb pick-up and return kick from the re-start and a penalty to Skipton for Modernians not rolling away at the break down allowed Yvarne Carroll to slot the kick and put Skipton in the lead.

Darren Greenwood came on to augment the Skipton front row and, despite two successive penalties to the visitors, Skipton gained the put-in for a Modernians knock-on.

Quick ball from the base of the scrum put Munro over for the home side's fourth try, gaining them a valuable bonus league point. Munro added the extra points himself with a long range touchline kick.

Veteran Skipton player Brian Bocksom, aged 53, replaced Jonathan Kulik at scrum-half for the last few minutes of the game and carried the ball well down field from a half-break, but no further points ensued and Skipton emerged worthy winners at 27-17.