Yarnbury 29, Skipton 27

Despite a much-changed team due to injury and marital commitments, Skipton could have won this Yorkshire Division One derby with a little more precision and confidence.

They produced some scintillating rugby and scored five tries, which would have guaranteed victory on another day, and they also had the edge in terms of possession and territory, but can only rue the missed kicks.

The game got underway in glorious sunshine at Brownberrie Lane but with a strong wind from the clubhouse end in Skipton’s favour.

Yarnbury threatened first, full back Dillon making a try-saving tackle, and Howson cele-brated his return to first XV action with a superb 50-metre clearance kick.

At the next line-out, Malcolm Willsher – reliable as ever in the middle – won the ball, scrum half Wibberley darting through to set up a ruck. Quick ball led to Paddy Murray bullocking towards the line with several defenders in tow.

Eventually dragged down, he regained his footing to dive over for the first try on the five- minute mark.

Skipton continued to exert pressure in the home side’s half and, after another scrum where the visitors were comfortable all day, more quick ruck ball led to a quick burst from captain Matt Speres.

A short pass went to new signing Rob Davey, who showed great strength and speed to make it 10-0 on ten minutes.

Yarnbury, however, refused to lie down and had most of the play for the next ten minutes with No 8 Moule prominent.

The only respite for Skipton was a sublime pick up from the base of the scrum in his own 22 by No 8 Murray, who raced 30 yards only to give what should have been a scoring pass to a blue shirt.

Yarnbury continued to press and, from a line-out five metres out, drove over the line only to be held up. From the attacking scrum, the ball went sweetly out to powerful centre Avison, who broke through to touch down near the posts, an easy conversion from former Ribb man Bartlett making it 10-7.

From the restart, Skipton swept downfield and, from a line-out, the lively Speres burst for the line only to lose the ball near the posts.

At the scrum, Yarnbury were penalised for feeding. Murray the elder took a quick tap and, from the ruck, Wibberley dummied and darted through to take the score to 15-7.

Yarnbury missed a penalty on 39 minutes but continued to exert pressure and, in the fifth minute of injury time after some good forward play, Mills scored out wide. Skipton started to lose shape and composure after the break and were guilty of trying to force the game instead of going through the phases and retaining possession.

This led to a well-taken try for prop Pike from a tap penalty, again converted.

Bartlett missed a penalty for hands-in, but when Skipton were penalised again for the same offence minutes later, No 15 Moore made no mistake and omin-ously increased Yarnbury’s lead to 22-15.

Maybe some stern words from the bench gave Skipton a much-needed wake-up call because they showed great character in the next few minutes and regained the upper hand.

When Dillon spotted a prop out in the backs, he took the opportunity and created space for Lee Shaw, who set off on a Lomuesque charge, barging would-be tacklers aside to score from 30 metres. Munro took over the kicking duties from Howson but had no more luck.

Skipton were certainly not short of endeavour, with every forward eager to carry the ball, Speres and Patrick Murray again being outstanding.

In the young No 8, Skipton have a player who has pace and power both from the scrum base and at first receiver and, particularly in the first half, made some terrific breaks.

Shaw was the pick of the three-quarters, showing real pace and determination, closely followed by new recruit Davey, who also knows where the line is.

But too often, passes were rushed or thrown without a target, handing the initiative back to the home side, and more use should have been made of the dangerous wingmen.

The next score was probably the pick of the day. A Yarnbury scrum wheeled to give Skipton the feed. Murray picked up and fed Shaw on halfway, who skinned his man on the outside, raced 30 yards and then swerved inside the full back to touch down. There was success with the boot at last for Munro.

A five-point lead and time to close the game down, but the jitters set in again and concerted pressure by Yarnbury led to a Bartlett try, converted by Moore, the final score of the day.

A narrow loss for a much-changed side, but there were plenty of good points to build on amid the disappointment of defeat.

A solid scrum and line-out, plenty of potent ball-carriers up front, largely solid defence, and real pace out wide.

With a little more composure and precision, the honours and points could easily have belonged to Skipton, and there are many positives to take.

* The Reds are looking forward to returning to Sandylands after two Saturdays on the road.

The team is strengthened to face York, who lie joint second, with the return of captain Jonathan Richards, Sam Boatright, Alex Naylor and Liam Ray.