IN THE two league meetings last season, honours finished even, with both games being won by the home team. It was to be expected, therefore, that this would not be an easy game for Skipton and so it proved.

The incessant rain of the previous 36 hours had turned the ground into a glue pot, which negated any advantage Skipton may have had in the backs.

The big, abrasive visiting front row soon gained the upper hand over their home counterparts and Skipton struggled up front in the early exchanges. Corinthians frequently relied on the kick through, but full back George Smithson, usually better known for his attacking capabilities, dealt tidily with everything kicked his way, usually returning the ball with interest.

An attempted clearance from the visitors was charged down by Duncan Brown, but Ian Scrivin was unlucky to see the ball roll dead with no-one else within five metres.

After 20 minutes, Corinthians were penalised, Pete Jenkinson making the first insurgence from the tap. Myles McDuff plundered further onward before the backs were released and a simple overlap on the right saw Mike Beech score in the corner.

Adam Oldfield was unlucky to see his attempted conversion drop under the cross bar, but in the circumstances, a 5-0 lead was very welcome.

By now the steam had been taken out of the visitors front row, as Skipton's superior fitness began to tell.

Corinthians earned successive five-metre scrums on 27 minutes in their first meaningful attack, but both were comfortably repulsed.

Oldfield had a chance to extend the lead on 34 minutes when he was taken out by a high tackle, but his kick drifted wide and half time was reached with the Reds deservedly 5-0 in the lead.

Skipton made a bright start to the second half, but couldn't extend their advantage until the 13th minute when eagle-eyed referee, Chris Sharp, spotted the visiting backs offside and Oldfield slotted over a simple penalty.

By now Bob Birks had replaced Neil King and suddenly the visitors were being shunted back at every scrum. Just as it looked as if Skipton would draw ahead, with Paul Lacy unlucky not to score when chasing up his own kick, Corinthians intercepted a Skipton back move on halfway, with centre Russ Bradley streaking away to score under the posts. With Carl Maynard tagging on the conversion, the Leeds side were back to 8-7 and there was all to play for.

Birks then had a strong burst towards the line and when the ball came back, Oldfield tried his luck with a drop goal, but the ball never lifted out of the mud and went under the bar.

On 30 minutes, McDuff made ground and when the ball was released, Oldfield made amends by plunging over for a try which he converted, to make the score 15-7.

Andy Porter made good ground from the kick-off with a long cross-field punt, which Maynard could only run into touch.

Adam Winthrop took the ball cleanly at the resultant line and the forwards drove. When the ball appeared, McDuff was unstoppable from five metres and with Oldfield again adding the conversion, a 22-7 win was achieved.

This was not the most emphatic win, but Corinthians were strong opponents and the ground conditions suited the visitors much more than the Reds.

With Malton and Norton to visit this week, a stiff test was just what the coaches would have wanted. A win tomorrow would go a long way towards securing promotion for the second successive year.