SKIPTON made a good start to the second half of the season, with a solid three try to two victory over Ossett at a wet Sandylands.

The sides exchanged a series of early penalties as they settled into the game, but no points resulted.

A fantastic kick and chase by Lewis Reynoldson, this week starting on the wing for Skipton, saw the ball over but Ossett just touched down first and a goal line drop-out resulted. Skipton gained a further penalty attempt at goal, which was not successful but Ossett knocked on, giving Skipton a scrum on the line and Miff Smith at No. 8 was over for Skipton's opening try. The conversion attempt went wide.

A stray kick by Skipton in the next phase of play was collected by the Ossett outside centre who ran in an easy unconverted try to level the scores. Ossett gained a penalty close in from the re-start, opted for the scrum and ran in try number two. The conversion attempt again drifted wide and the sides turned round at 5-10 in the visitors favour.

A high tackle by Ossett from the re-start gave Skipton a penalty, which Jamie Barker at stand-off slotted to claw back three points for the home side. Skipton Coach Craig Bartlett then brought Harry McEneaney and Carl Nicholson into the Skipton pack. A long range kick by skipper Hamish Munro at full-back put Skipton down field and a great break and run by Joe Stapleton on the wing saw Skipton cross the line under the posts. An infringement by Ossett over the goal line resulted in a penalty try being awarded to the home side and a yellow card for Ossett.

Ossett then received a red card from the re-start for a dangerous high tackle. Munro put the forwards downfield from the penalty and strong forward work saw Carl Nicholson over for Skipton's third try, again unconverted. Skipton forward Andy Wooler collected a yellow card a few minutes before time and a try saving gather on the ground by McEneaney kept Ossett out, with the final score at 20-10 to Skipton.

On Saturday, Skipton Seconds also welcomed Ossett Seconds to Sandylands.

The visitors who had been decimated by the dreaded covid virus had managed to scrape 12 fit players for the fixture, so it was decided that the game would be played as a 13 a-side game with Skipton’s Tom Smith kindly stepping up and volunteering for Ossett.

The game kicked off with skipper Martyn Hughes sending the ball deep into the Ossett half, some ferocious tackling from Aidan Procter and Oliver bishop had Ossett knocking on and giving Skipton an early scrum in front of the uprights.

Skipton’s dominance showed early in the scrum with Andrew Baron & Smith Middleton being too strong for the opposition front row, Skipton were awarded an early penalty, which Hughes duly slotted, 3-0 to Skipton.

Five minutes later some strong running and slick passing from Jamie Carroll and Billy Richardson, saw skipper Hughes crossing the line for Skipton’s first try which he also converted.

Straight from the kick off, Skipton again showed their power & pace ending with Oliver bishop powering over with Mr reliable Hughes converting , 17-0 to Skipton. This score rallied the Ossett team into a response but some absolutely massive tackling from Drew Jennings and super sub Jack parry forced the Ossett side backwards time after time.

Approaching half time, Skipton rumbled forward deep into the Ossett 22, with hooker Bishop parrying his way over the line carrying at least three Ossett players over with him. Half time 24-0 . Half time blood sub, with new boy Steven Carroll replacing battered and blooded Jamie Evans who again put his body on the line for the team.

The second half began with Skipton being a little complacent after a dominant first half and conceded two soft converted tries. Once again the seconds bounced back with Mr versatile Drew Jennings wrestling for a loose ball, hacking forward and winning the chase to dive on the ball for Skipton’s fourth try , Hughes again converting.

A mini revival from Ossett saw them eventually score in a third try, after some valiant tackling from the likes of Ady Roscoe, and debutante Steven Carroll. With just 15mins to go Skipton’s fifth try arrived and ultimately the best try of the day, great tackling from Carroll and Carroll saw the ball end up in Michael Langdale's hands in Skipton’s 22, Langdale set off with only one thing in mind and after beating four Ossett tacklers and ran 80 meters to touch down underneath the sticks. Final score: Skipton 38-21 Ossett.