Skipton are ready to beat the odds in their first county final for 49 years when they take on Leeds Corinthians for the Yorkshire Silver Trophy at Bradford and Bingley this Sunday, kicking off at 2.30pm.

With both teams in Yorkshire Division Three fourth-placed Corinthians will start as favourites over Skipton, who are third from bottom, four places below them, but the Reds are confident they can take the trophy.

Their youngest player is 18-year-old George Smithson, one of four colts in the side, the others being Ian Sneddon and Adam Oldfield who are both 19 and Darren Howson who will be 19 the day after the final, and their oldest player is 39-year-old Peter Wood.

On the road to the final Skipton - founded in 1874 and winners of the Yorkshire Cup three times - beat Heath 20-12 at home in the First Round, Old Rishworthians 11-6 at home in the Second Round, Hornsea 34-5 away in the Quarter-Finals and Aireborough 17-13 at home in the Semi-Finals.

For their part Corinthians, founded in 1956 and seeking their first county silverware, had a bye in the First Round and then beat Baildon 19-10 at home in the Second Round, Garforth 17-3 at home in the Quarter-Finals and Marist 27-3 at home in the Semi-Finals.

Skipton coach Rod Rush - whose third final it will be as a coach, having taken Bradford Salem to victory in the National Provincial Cup Final at Twickenham and to the Yorkshire Shield Final both in 1991 - says: "Despite our lower league position I believe we have a better than even chance of lifting the trophy we gave back to the county after winning it outright as the Yorkshire Cup.

"A lot hinges on our forwards and how well we do up front, especially the front row of Neil King, Bill Nicholson and Bob Birks, for we have not been knocked back in the scrummage all season. And in our No 8 and captain Adam Winthrop we have got a good director of the team and a player who has improved throughout the season.

"As long as we get our tackling and defensive work as good as our setpiece work we can win for we have the backs to make full use of our possession, especially an outstanding half-back partnership in scrum-half and North of England Colt Adam Oldfield and fly-half and Yorkshire Colt trialist Darren Howson.

"We will be at full strength apart from the loss of flank forward Bob Binns who fractured a foot in training last week, the third time he has suffered fractures in training this season.

"We are raring to go and do the club proud and bring the trophy back to where it belongs - Skipton!

The Reds' president Harry Crabtree says:"When the Reds met Corinthians at Leeds in their league fixture in November they were beaten 41-11 and Corinthians must therefore highly rate their chances of success and start off favourites.

"Personally I think they are in for a surprise. In my view this Skipton team has yet to perform to its true potential and its league position does not truly reflect some very fine performances.

"I will be surprised if Skipton are not boss in the set scrums and if our flankers are not first to the breakdown. Much hinges on the tight five making their presence felt and gaining and retaining possession in broken play and the pack winning at least their share of lineout ball.

"It is a big game for all the team particularly the four colts in the side and they need to maintain their composure on this big occasion and play their natural game.

"I am pleased and proud for the club and the players. I know they will do their very best and I feel confident that that will produce victory."

All supporters are reminded that they should contact the president on Skipton 793083 if they want to reserve a seat on one of the coaches.

The Skipton team is: fullback Gary Heims, right winger Mike Beech, outside centre Ian Sneddon, inside centre Andy Porter, left winger George Smithson; fly-half Darren Howson, scrum-half Adam Oldfield; loose head prop Bob Birks, hooker Neil King, tight head prop Bill Nicholson; left lock Andy Phillip, right lock Brian Strickland, blind side flanker Simon Millichap, open side flanker Peter Wood, No 8 and captain Adam Winthrop; replacements Matthew Jones, Martin Coulter, Nigel Buck, Robbie King, Mark Davison, Baden Burns.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.