Skipton nearly stun Barnsley in Yorkshire Three in hard slog

While adding to their Yorkshire Three tally, the losing bonus point seemed scant reward to the sizeable home crowd for a display which took Barnsley right down to the wire.

Skipton set their stall out from the kick-off, playing into the strong westerly wind and taking the game to the visitors.

A great early break from skipper Hamish Munro at centre gave the home side confidence, but a dour 15 minutes of play followed, with solid defence from Skipton.

A rare incursion into Skipton's half saw a Barnsley throw-in on the home side's line, but hooker Charlie Brown secured the ball and Skipton cleared.

The sides challenge for a lineout.

Barnsley gained a penalty for a Skipton high tackle and opted for the scrum.

Two further penalties came Barnsley's way and from the third they ran the ball from the base of the scrum to go over for a try.

The conversion attempt sneaked over in the wind and the sides turned round at 7-0 to Barnsley.

Skipton maintained their level of intensity from the restart.

A penalty attempt at goal for Barnsley handling on the ground went wide in the wind, but great pressure from Skipton saw them gain a scrum five metres out and a second which they took against the head.

The kick into the corner saw Skipton steal the ball at the lineout and, from a rolling maul, No.8 Harry McEneaney went over for a try.

Skipton came back into the game, but could not find a crucial second score.

The conversion attempt by Lewis Reynoldson was well struck but drifted wide.

Skipton took the battle up front straight back to the visitors, hungry for another score, with relentless pressure from the forwards, but time ran out on them.

The final whistle saw both sides receive a standing ovation from the crowd for a tremendous effort in the adverse conditions.

Eight-placed Skipton are back in action this weekend, at home to second-bottom Hemsworth.