YORKSHIRE THREE

Thornensians 64

Skipton 14

AN understrength Skipton, due to injuries and unavailability, suffered a ten try to two defeat at Thornensians.

However, the scoreline does not do justice to the squad that made the long journey south of the Ouse, as they played with determination and held the home side to 24-7 until the last quarter of the game.

Thornensians opened the scoring in the first few minutes with an unconverted try from a clever chip through following a clean break from the halfway line.

Some strong runs by the home side and two knock-ons by Skipton gave Thornensians a scrum five metres out.

Skipton collapsed the scrum and the home side were awarded penalty try to stretch their lead.

Try number three came a few minutes later and Skipton coach Craig Bartlett brought props Chris Wright and Tom Allsop into the front row to bolster the scrum.

Wright made an immediate impact with a crunching tackle and, although the home side gained a fourth try from slick handling, the scrum had been stabilised and Skipton began to make ground down field, disrupting the home side's forward play.

A penalty to Skipton was compounded ten metres for back chat to the referee and Thornensians were caught off-side.

The ball was put into the corner and back row Harry McEneaney was over from the line-out for Skipton's first try. Stand-off Yvarne Carroll added the extra points.

Sound defence by Skipton from the re-start prevented another try. The visitors gained possession and worked the ball down field through many phases of play.

A knock-on ended the move but Skipton won the ball back and a chip through by full-back Jonathan Kulik and chase by skipper Hamish Munro on the wing pinned Thornensians back.

Number 8 Mark Davison broke from a further Skipton scrum but was bundled into touch just short and the sides turned round at 24-7 to Thornensians.

An early penalty to Skipton in the second half for the home side handling on the ground and a free kick from the line-out saw a good run from back row Charlie Brown put Skipton down field.

Repeated offences of going over the top saw Thornensians receive another penalty and a yellow card.

Unluckily for Skipton, Carroll's attempt at goal hit the post and Thornensians countered, putting the ball into the corner.

Skipton gained a scrum for not straight at the line-out but the home side won the ball and were over for try number five.

A try-saving tackle by McEneaney from the re-start gave Skipton the scrum and Carroll put the ball down field.

Again Thornensians countered and a high Skipton tackle gave them a penalty five metres out. They opted for the scrum and ran in try number six.

Try number seven came from the re-start and Skipton's day was getting worse at 45-7 to the home side.

However, Thornensians knocked on from the re-start. Skipton gained penalty from the scrum and a quick tap by Kulik put Munro over for Skipton's second try after many phases of play and a wide pass to the outside. Carroll added the extra points.

Ferocious play by the Skipton forwards from the re-start took them into Thornensians 22 but the visitors had run out of steam and the home side's eighth try came from a flowing counter attack.

Thornensians ran in two further tries in the last few minutes of the game to give them a flattering score line of 64-14.