Skipton 24

Leeds Corinthians 28

TWO tries by hooker Ryan Chafer and one each from stand-off Josh Nkwo and back-row Tom Harrison earned Skipton two valuable league bonus points in a close encounter, with only the conversions separating the sides.

Skipton welcomed Kiwi prop Joe Simeon and returning half-back Ra Neha in the late summer sunshine at Sandylands.

A forward pass denied the visitors an early try but a penalty for Skipton not rolling away at the breakdown put them down field and their first try soon followed.

Skipton came straight back from the re-start. A chip through from a penalty put them into the corner.

The drive from the line-out resulted in a Skipton put-in five metres out and from the melee, Chafer was over for the home side's first try. The conversion attempt went wide of the posts.

Skipton back-row Andy Wooler stole the ball at the line-out after the home side had been bundled into touch from the re-start, but lost possession gave the visitors another converted try just before half-time.

The second half did not start well for the home side. A penalty was kicked dead and Corinthians ran in an easy try from the scrum back.

Try number four soon followed and the home crowd feared the worst.

Skipton had other ideas and from a scrum for a Corinthians knock-on, scrum-half Jack McLeod was over but adjudged held up.

Skipton went again from the five metre scrum, only to see winger Shaun Barraclough held up.

At the third attempt, Nkwo was over for Skipton's second try. The conversion attempt again went wide.

A tremendous hard-hitting run from the re-start by winger Jamie Carroll put Skipton down field and Chafer was soon over for the home side's third try. Skipper Hamish Munro added the extra points.

A fantastic kick and chase in the next phase of play from McLeod at scrum-half and Carroll on the wing ran dead but Skipton countered from the 22 drop out and gained a scrum five metres out.

They conceded a penalty but stole the ball at the resultant line-out, putting Harrison over for try number four to the delight of the Sandylands crowd. Munro added the extra points to round the afternoon off.