Yorkshire Division Three: Skipton 38, Moortown 10

WITH the "Full House" signs up at Sandylands, a large and vociferous crowd witnessed an awesome display from Skipton, who now sit proudly at the top of the league table, writes Chris Windle.

With first use of the brisk breeze the home team's early urgency showed their desire to build a first half lead.

Raking kicks for the corner by both ensured Skipton soon held the territorial advantage and with Phillip and Davison dominant in the lineout, the only surprise was that it took 14 minutes before Skipton took the lead.

From a free kick the Reds set up a rolling maul and eventually hooker Declan Hayes drove over for an unconverted try.

Full back Smithson then crossed the line twice but was denied firstly for a knock-on and then could not quite ground the ball but eventually the pressure told as Mark Davison took a pop ball from Phillip to score under the posts. Howson's conversion made the score 12-0 after 22 minutes.

Moortown seemed to have no answer to the awesome Skipton pack who were not only winning nearly all the lineouts but by now taking strikes against the head in the scrum - and it was a member of the much vaunted front row, Bob Birks, who popped up at centre to create an overlap for Beech to stretch the lead to 17-0, improved by Howson's conversion to 19-0 after 30 minutes.

Again Skipton crossed the line, only to be pulled back as the final pass to Winthrop was judged forward but the relief was only temporary as Howson soon scored a fine individual try, which he then converted, after 35 minutes.

The Moortown pack were by now like the pigeons at Leeds City Hall, pecking for scraps of possession in the dust and the half-time score of 26-0 certainly did not flatter Skipton.

In the second half Moortown, who came into the game full of confidence and expecting to consolidate their table topping position, tried to emulate Skipton by kicking deep.

Still, however, Skipton's control of the lineout ensured that they could not keep hold of the ball for long enough to mount any sustained attacks.

Skipton spurned an eminently kickable penalty, set up a rolling maul and from that 18 stones of New Zealand beef, in the form of number eight Ben Antonio, drove over to score and increase the lead to 31-0 after 52 minutes.

The Moortown backs showed what they could have achieved if they had seen more of the ball when Morton collected his own deft chip kick and passed to Eastham who scored under the posts - although the conversion was inexplicably missed - to make the score 31-5.

Again Skipton drove and Beech made the line but again the final pass was adjudged forward. Moortown pushed downfield and when Smithson was caught in possession back row forward Minns scored in the corner to narrow the gap to 31-10 and possibly set a few hearts a-fluttering.

Nerves were however settled when the Hayes-King partnership again struck against the head, and Antonio scored his second try, which was improved by Howson, to make it 38-10.

It would be difficult to pick out a star in Skipton's team - the win was essentially due to an excellent team effort. The whole pack was colossal, with Phillip perhaps stung by being called an old workhorse the previous week, resembling a young thoroughbred colt as he galloped around the field. So often Robbie, the younger of the King brothers, was the link between forwards and backs.

Joint coach Andy Guest was well pleased with his charges, who he thought could easily have scored a further five or six times. He felt Skipton were best in every department and well worthy of their win. Two league games now remain as Skipton's unbeaten run extends to 13 league games and with a points' difference currently 81 better than second placed Corinthians, two wins would seem certain to see the league title come Sandylands' way.

There's another big game at Sandylands this week as attention turns to the semi-final of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy. Wakefield Cougars are the visitors tomorrow (Saturday), kick off 3pm. Another large crowd can be expected - as can an entertaining game - with Wakefield currently unbeaten and topping their division also.

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