Skipton Through in 5 Try Victory

Next round of the North Yorkshire Trophy awaits impressive Skipton second team

Skipton welcomed Yorkshire 1 side, Guisborough's 2nd team to Sandylands in the rearranged first round clash of the North Yorkshire Trophy. It was a great encounter which saw some good tries.
Skipton showed their intent from the kick off. Carl Nicholson (Top Dental) caught the hanging ball and ran straight into the Guisborough pack, skittling would be 2 or 3 players. Forward momentum was a key factor for most of the game and Skipton’s first try came on 10 minutes, when great support play and handling by the Skipton team, saw Harry Maltby (Gerigraph Construction Solutions) score just left of the uprights. Yvanne Carroll (Shaun Barraclough Plumbing and Heating) kicked the extra’s to give Skipton the 7 point advantage.
Guisborough kicked off once again and it was the turn of Andy Whitley (The Albion Pub, Skipton), who carried the ball with intent all game, to take a clean catch and rumble forward. Some great quick rucking from Sean McLeod saw Skipton pile pressue on the Guisborough line. Jacob Squires, Ben Brierley and Andy McLean (Thisledo Holiday Cottage) were always moving forward with ball in hand but resolute defence kept Skipton out.

The Skipton starting props of Andrew Baron and Darren Greenwood, lay down a good platform at scrumtime and Aidan Proctor again, was putting in some monster hits. A penalty for off side gave Skipton the chance to make some ground and put the ball deep inside the Guisborough 22’. A well rehearsed line out move saw Maltby catch the ball, pop off to Andy Whitley coming round the blind side and powered down the touchline to score in the corner. Yvanne Carroll tried to add the extra but fell just short. Skipton where flying high 12 – 0 to the good.

Guisborough scored their first try in broken play when a lapse in concentration saw them kick deep down the right touch line and a nice bounce, gave the winger the chance to score. The conversion missed.
This didn’t knock Skipton confidence, the home side, from the kick off, piled pressure on the receiver and turned over the ball. Some direct running by Jack Firth on the left wing took Slipton in the Guisborough 22, and some quick play by scrum half Jake Emmison fed hooker, Michael Murray, who danced round two would be tacklers to cross the white wash. Carroll missed the conversion. A un-malicious high tackle by Yvanne Carroll gave the referee no option but to give the Kiwi stand off a yellow card with 5 minutes of the half remaining. The brotherhood went into half time 17 – 5 to the good.
Skipton swapped their props at half time, Greenwood and Baron, making way for Rob Morgan (Beer Monkey Brewery) and Tom Allsopp (Castlefield Cosmetics). Guisborough had a few good, hard runners who showed pace in open play from the kick off. They made some good ground moving the larger Skipton pack round the field but great defence and closing down meant Guisborough were only going side to side. Yvanne Carrol came back on the field after his stint in the sin-bin, and made an impact straight away with a monster hit on the half way line. Lee Shaw (Witch Electrical) came off the bench and replaced Tony Spensley in the back line.
Skipton started to dominate the scrums and a strong platform, gave No 8, Whiltey the chance to peel off the back of a scrum, pass to Jake Emmison who popped to Yvanne Carroll who ‘showed and go’ed inside his opposite number to score under the posts. Carroll converted for the extra points and to give Skipton a 24 – 10 lead.
Captain for the day Whitley came off with 20 minutes to go and was replaced by Simon Lacey (Sutton Playgroup).
This didn’t halt any Skipton momentum. A strong run after some good go forward play, saw Lee Shaw power through the away defence to score under the posts. Carroll provided the extra 2 points to give Skipton a 31 – 10 scoreline and take the win.
A special mention to the Guisborough team, who travelled the 70 miles and gave a great account of themselves.

The brotherhood return to the merit league next week as both teams welcome Aireborough to Sandylands in the third Super Saturday of the season. With three great wins on the bounce, the mighty Twos will be looking for another win to keep them vying for top spot.