SKIPTON came away with just a losing bonus point from a very hard fought, closely contested encounter at Castleford.

The home side applied early pressure on Skipton, but the visitors' defence held firm and a charge down and gather by Ben Walker on the wing put Skipton down field.

They gained a penalty for Castleford not rolling away. Stand-off Lewis Reynoldson put the kick into the corner and a rolling maul from the line-out brought Skipton close.

Castleford were caught off-side and Reynoldson slotted the penalty kick to put Skipton 3-0 up.

They were to be the only points of the half.

Despite a Castleford penalty into the corner for a deliberate knock-on by Skipton, the visitors won the line-out and the sides turned round at 0-3 to Skipton.

Skipton Coach Craig Bartlett brought Tony Spensley and Sam Barraclough into the Skipton pack for the second-half, with Tom Lacey going out to the wing, but Castleford came straight off the starting blocks after the break and quick hands down the line gave them an early converted try before Skipton had got back into the game.

A kick through and chase by Reynoldson saw the ball over the line for Skipton but Walker just failed by inches to touch down.

Skipton dominated the line-out in this encounter, stealing many Castleford throw-ins, and came close with intense pressure at the ruck on Castleford's line but a handling error ended the move.

A late yellow card for the home side for a high tackle on centre Josh Nkwo made little difference to the outcome and Skipton came away with just a losing bonus point to add to their Yorkshire Three tally, 7-3 FT.