An injury-time try by South African No 8 Korsten Kriel finally killed off Skipton's hopes on their first league visit to Grove Park and although the winning margin slightly flattered the home side, there was no doubting their right to victory.

The advent of leagues and cash, elitism and eroding amateurism, has made games for traditionalists to savour something of a rarity.

Grass roots rugby is scoffed at by many, officials from the bankrupt, new-rugby end of the business being more than happy to carve up all the serious funding and leave the likes of North Ribblesdale and Skipton to struggle along with a comparative pittance.

That they do so with enthusiasm is the game's greatest strength and this derby match at Settle was a throwback to what many still regard as 'the good old days' and perhaps underlined better than most the qualities that have made the game so successful down the years.

This was simply an honest-to-goodness league encounter which had effort and commitment as its greatest virtues. Most of the good work was destructive rather than creative, with the inevitable limitations of both sides in terms of fitness and conditioning preventing any prolonged passages of play. Fluency was a precious commodity.

The concept of recycling the ball through a dozen breakdowns is one which exists only on the blackboard at grass-roots level simply because part-timers who play the game for fun simply cannot attain the levels of fitness displayed in the free-flowing Zurich Premiership.

But whatever limitations the rank and file labour under, they were never handicapped by a lack of enthusiasm or drive.

Ribblesdale had the crucial edge in terms of the threat they posed as an attacking force and the superior size and pace of their back-row trio, where Messrs Carr, Kirkbride and Kriel were powerful marauders.

Skipton's cause was handicapped by the need to play Kiwi back-row man Chuck Kepa at centre. His strength was not only missing from the close-quarter forward exchanges, where Skipton could have used some extra timber, but his willingness to take the ball into contact when it came his way left very modest pickings for players on the outside.

While North Ribb were undone the previous week by the speed and quality of the Ilkley backs, Skipton never once threatened to expose any frailty in that department, with scrum-half Grant Litt the only player who looked to have the fleetness of foot - albeit a damaged one - to pose problems.

George Smithson at centre had little chance to shine and with the battle fought up front, Skipton did not have the wherewithal to get any advantage and were mostly on the back foot.

Curiously, while there were a handful of occasions when a concerted scrum drive sent the Ribblesdale eight into brisk retreat, when the visitors won good positions near the home line and had the put-in, they could not replicate the energy and cohesion they needed to make an impact.

Ribblesdale, in contrast, often caused problems through the drive of their back-row and the intelligent use of the ball by scrum-half Neil Gemmell.

He also showed all his years of experience when snuffing out arguably Skipton's clearest first-half threat, a quickly-taken penalty by Litt and a kick ahead coming to nought when the Kiwi somehow managed to intertwine his legs with Gemmell as he sought to get past his opposite number. The referee offered no censure and the threat was lost.

Skipton's penchant for conceding penalties is a failing new coach Ashley Thomas will be keen to erase. The visitors twice left fly-half Adam Whaites with simple shots when they offended in the opening stages, with the result that they were always behind.

Full-back Michael Richards landed two penalties and Litt an acute-angled drop-goal, but three penalties and two conversions by Whaites eclipsed that tally.

Ribblesdale also scored the only tries of the game, prop Anthony Bradley getting the first after a prolonged spell of pressure and Kriel showing great energy and drive when he picked up at No 8 and drove over in injury time to clinch the win.

That Skipton were still within striking distance at that stage was a testament to their resolve, which will surely be tested again as they seek to get away from the relegation end of the Yorkshire Two table.

But for the purist, this was a game in which all the virtues of grass-roots sport were faithfully observed. It was a derby match with no lack of effort from either side, but one which stayed sensible throughout and allowed the post-match mood to be convivial and friendly.

Skipton may well feel that they will be able to redress the balance when the return match is played at Sandylands in January, but Part One deservedly went to the Settle men.