Skipton edge Hemsworth

A sizeable home crowd saw Skipton start strongly, with excellent line-out work from Jordan Wilson and a good break by outside centre Jamie Donnelly. Hemsworth gained an early penalty and punted the ball down field. It fell short of the line and Harry McEneaeney (Ryan Binner plumbing and heating), this week starting at second row, collected the ball and fed Kiwi prop Tyrin Wyllie who was over for the home side's opening try. The conversion attempt drifted wide.

Skipton exerted pressure on the visitors from the re-start with a great chip through from stand-off Yvarne Carroll (Shaun Barraclough Plumbing and Heating) putting Jamie Carroll (JD Construction), starting at blind side flanker, close but into touch. Skipton maintained the forward pressure but were held up on the line and Hemsworth boke down field from the scrum. Skipton came in at the side at the break down, giving the visitors an easy chance to claw back three points from the penalty kick.

Hemsworth conceded a penalty themselves from the re-start, compounded 10 metres for back chat to the referee and Skipton put the ball into the cornner. Scrum-half Sam Brearley broke from the line-out but sustained a serious leg injury and had to leave the field, being replaced by Andy Maclean (Thisledo Holiday Cottage). Skipton did not release at the next break down, giving the visitors' stand off the chance to add another three points and take them into the break with a narrow 6-5 lead.

Yellow fever broke out early in the second half with Skipton back row Jordan Wilson (WBW) and his Hemsworth opposite number both being carded for fighting. Skipton Coach Craig Bartlett (Pure Travel/WBW) brought Andy Whitley (The Albion, Skipton) into the pack as an impact player and Skipton were soon camped on Hemsworth's 22. Replacement scrum-half Jack McLeod (Drake and Macefield) broke from the base of the scrum and was over for Skipton's second try. Yvarne Carroll added the extra points.

A penalty in the next phase of play for a Skipton deliberate knock-on saw the third yellow card of the day issued Wyllie for dissent. Hemsworth opted for the scrum and 30 seconds later gained the day's fourth yellow card for interference on McLeod by their scrum-half. Skipton were unsettled and lost the next scrum against the head, giving Hemsworth an easy run in for their first try. The try was converted and Skipton were trailing 13-12.

End to end play from the re-start saw Skipton gain a penalty for Hemsworth not releasing. A chip through by Yvarne Carroll saw the ball go into touch but Skipton won the line out and McLeod fed Carroll to put Skipton over for their third try. Inside centre Joe Gill (JBL Gill and Sons Haulage) added the extra points.

Turn over ball by Carroll from the re-start gained Skipton another penalty. They put the ball into the corner and Wyllie was over for try number four, earning the home side a bonus league point. Gill was again successful with the conversion.

A short throw-in to the line by Hemsworth in the next phase of play gave them a platform to attack. They crossed Skipton's line and were held up, but were over from the five metre scrum with a converted try to bring the score to 26-20. Dogged defence by Skipton in the last five minutes prevented any further score and the home side gained a well earned win to the delight of the Sandylands' crowd.