Skipton came out on top by 14-8 in this battle between two mid table sides with identical playing records in Yorkshire Division Three.

The Reds were able to field much the same side which had performed so heroically at Heath - perhaps an indication that the crippling early season injury situation is easing at last. The only changes were the recall of Matt Jones after injury, albeit to the centre rather than back row, and the return of Peter Jenkinson and Gary Heims to the subs bench.

Skipton had the advantage of a stiff diagonal breeze but were immediately pegged back by some determined running and backing up from the Stocksbridge forwards.

The home side were able to withstand this early pressure by dint of some excellent defensive work and in fact had the chance to take the lead after 11 minutes but Adam Oldfield's long range penalty attempt fell short.

This signalled a passage where each side threatened the opponents' line in turn and in fact Birks dived over from a lineout for Skipton but the try was not awarded.

Eventually after 27 minutes the Reds' scrum produced a big shove for Binns to win the ball against the head and the ball was fed out to Jones who scored under the posts, Oldfield converting.

Oldfield had three more chances to increase the lead with long range penalties but could not get the range on any of them.

But there was better news for Skipton just before half time when the Reds' pack drove into the visitors' 22. They then released the ball which was spun out wide to Wilson on the left wing and he duly obliged by touching down wide out. Oldfield landed a superb conversion from the touch line to make it 14-0.

Half time arrived with Stocksbridge pressing hard and one wondered if the Skipton lead would be enough to defend against the elements.

Stocksbridge started the second half as they had ended the first and, 'having missed two penalty attempts, they finally crossed the line but the would-be scorer was held up by Jones. The visitors won the five metre scrum and their flanker wriggled over too far out for the conversion to be added.

Stocksbridge were able to maintain their ascendancy for the much of the rest of the half but Skipton's defence did not wilt under the sustained attempt until 30 minutes into the half, when their opponents succeeded with a penalty attempt to make it 14-8.

However Skipton gradually lifted the siege and eight minutes later Farquhar was grounded just short of the line after a good break from the base of the scrum by Winthrop. The danger was cleared but the game ended with Skipton again taking play to their opponents in the shape of a charge by Nicholson.

This was a satisfying victory for the Reds, ground out against very competitive and combative opponents who gave little away.

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