Skipton 30 Ripon 19

When, after 17 minutes, Ripon were leading by 12 points to nil, and had missed a simple penalty as well as having had a try disallowed, it seemed that the Nightmare on Elm Street started the previous week against Heath had returned with a swift sequel.

That Skipton eventually ran out comfortable winners was testament to the turn around in fortunes, brought about mainly by a dynamic forward performance.

Skipton's recovery from the trauma of their cup defeat the previous week was complete when scores came through to the bar afterwards.

Defeats for Keighley and Ilkley had moved the Reds into third place in the League despite a performance a bit like the famous curate's egg, but which was enough to avenge the opening day of the season defeat at Ripon.

The visitors' right winger Jason Bell had a chance in only the second minute to give Ripon the perfect start, but pulled his penalty kick badly wide.

On nine minutes though he made amends when a Skipton attack was broken up, and he collected a chip ahead to gallop fully 60 metres to score a fine try.

He almost made it a double moments later when he touched down again but was brought back by referee Tony Molone for being in front of the kicker.

That was only a temporary respite as a long kick down field saw Adam Oldfield wanting too much time for his clearance kick, which Richard Bannister charged down to score under the posts, Bell adding the conversion to make it 12-0.

Fortunately then Skipton awoke from their bad dream and started to apply some pressure, which Ripon could only relieve by giving away penalties.

From one such award Skipton gained a line out five metres from the line and the pack drove skipper Declan Hayes over on 29 minutes to open the Reds' account.

Unfortunately Oldfield missed the conversion attempt, as he did a penalty chance five minutes later, but on 37 minutes the gap was narrowed further when the Skipton pack again drove forward near to the line before Jack Morgan scored a good try going blind, the kick again going wide.

That was the final score of the half, the last 20 minutes of which thankfully saw the homesters at last competing.

Following a good kick to the corner from Anthony Hill after 42 minutes, Oldfield had another chance at goal from a penalty, but again missed.

Just three minutes later Skipton moved ahead for the first time when quick hands put Hill into space and he made no mistake to score in the corner, Oldfield's difficult kick again drifting wide.

Bell then had a chance to equalise for the visitors, but put his kick wide on a difficult day for the kickers.

Ripon were enjoying a spell of pressure, although Skipton defended well before number eight Gary Denver scored his first try for the Mallorie Park Club, Bell converting to put Ripon in the lead at 19-15.

After that it was all Skipton, as Ripon were again penalised, allowing Oldfield to punt for the corner.

Morgan took the line out cleanly, and the rest of the pack drove with the two props Birks and Jenkinson in the van, with the latter being credited with the try. Oldfield's best kick of the day, from the touchline, hit the post much to his chagrin.

On 68 minutes Ripon were again penalised and a change of kicker saw full back Darren Howson show his fly half how to do it as he nonchalantly chipped over the kick.

Skipton then had an intense spell of pressure, but failed to add to the 23-19 lead until the very last minute when right winger Paul Lacy finally got the better of his opposite number to score a try, Howson continuing with his 100 per cent record in knocking over the conversion to make the final score 30-19.