Skipton lose tough test against unbeaten Knottingley

Knottingley 38

AFTER two wins on the trot, Skipton faced a tougher test against unbeaten Knottingley at Sandylands and lost a physical Yorkshire Three encounter on Saturday.

Skipton started well and, despite an early penalty goal to the visitors for a Skipton off-side, skipper Hamish Munro put the Reds down field and a superb drive from the line-out saw prop Joe Simeon held up over the line.

Skipton went again from the five metre scrum and quick hands from scrum-half Jack McLeod put winger Kieran Taylor over for the first try of the afternoon.

Taylor sustained an injury from a challenge after the ball had been touched down and took no further part in the game. The touch-line conversion attempt went wide.

In the next phase of play Jordan Wilson, playing in his 107th appearance for the Skipton first team, stole the ball at the line-out and two strategic kicks from Ra Neha at stand-off and McLeod put Munro over the line, but he was pulled back for a double movement.

The Skipton forwards drove on but a knock-on at the ruck gave Knottingley the put-in and quick hands put them over for converted try number one.

Expansive midfield running by Knottingley gave them two more converted tries before half-time and the sides turned round at 24-5 in the visitors' favour.

A yellow card for stamping at the ruck reduced Knottingley to 14 men immediately after the break, but quick hands down the back line soon gave them try number four.

A great take at the line-out by Wilson and a drive by replacement prop Sam Stewart put Skipton downfield and a series of three penalties to Skipton brought them to Knottingley's line.

Knottingley conceded a further penalty at the line-out and Skipton opted for the scrum, but a knock-on denied them any points.

Skipton would not give up and took the scrum against the head.

They opted for another scrum following a Knottingley infringement, but a penalty to the visitors was compounded 10 metres for backchat to the referee and a breakaway fifth try rounded off a disappointing afternoon for Skipton.