Lead on, McDuff, to top of table

FOUR tries by Kiwi No 8 Myles McDuff helped to dispel any doubts that Skipton may have had about their ability to prosper in a higher division when the Reds totally overpowered Bramley Phoenix in a seven-try romp at The Warrels to move to the top of Yorkshire Three.

Even with some of their regulars missing, Skipton were too powerful up front, McDuff showing deadly force from close range to power over for a four-try haul.

Skipton took the lead as early as the 5th minute when they stole the ball at a Bramley lineout. First phase ball was run back to the forwards by centre Andy Porter and when it was recycled quickly, Number 8 McDuff burst through the centre to score under the posts, fly-half Darren Howson converting.

Any feeling of over-confidence was banished just 4 minutes later when a piece of sloppy defending from a speculative kick through resulted in an unconverted try for the Bramley left winger Cromack, but the Skipton forwards were now into their stride and giving the Bramley eight a torrid time at the scrums. Eventually the pressure told when Bramley fell offside and Howson converted the penalty to extend the lead to 10-5 after 19 minutes. This soon became 15-5 when a powerful drive sucked in the Bramley defence, creating an overlap on the right which allowed McDuff to canter in for his second try.

The second half started well for Skipton. A lineout was won on the 22 from the kick off and again Porter ran hard back to the forwards, crossing the gain line to set up a forward base. Similarly to the first try, when the ruck was won, it was McDuff who blasted over from short distance to complete his hat-trick of tries, Howson converting to make the score 22-5. Bramley now looked ragged and started to lose their discipline. McDuff was felled by a dangerously high tackle and when the lineout from the ensuing penalty was won, Bramley collapsed the maul as it rumbled ominously forward. Again the ball was kicked for touch and Skipton should have scored again, but the lineout was lost, a failing which let them down soon afterwards when another chance beckoned.

This let-off provided a brief respite for the home team, however, as at the scrum they were driven backwards at such pace that the ball popped out at Skipton's feet with McDuff picking up and diving over for his fourth try, again converted by Howson. With 12 minutes of the second half gone, and leading 29-5, Skipton, withdrew four try hero McDuff with a calf strain - although it could hardly have come from his try scoring exploits with a total distance for all 4 tries of only 9 yards!

With Robbie King on the field, the back row was certainly not short of pace and again Beech almost scored, but put a foot in touch as he crossed. Baden Burns replaced Bob Birks in the front row and shortly after, following a big tackle from Howson which flattened his opposite number, Smithson picked up the ball on halfway, turned on the gas and shot under the posts, again Howson converting.

By now Skipton were rampant. Scrum half Brown put in a raking kick to the corner, leaving the Bramley winger no option but to put the ball into touch 10m from the line. This time Skipton took the lineout quickly and uncovered Mike Beech, who at last got on the score sheet with a try in the corner. By now the Bramley players had completely lost their control. To their only answer to a succession of strong forward drives was to reply with their fists. To Skipton's great credit, they refused to be intimidated, George Smithson rounding off the scoring with an unconverted try on the left.

With Malton & Norton being beaten and Barnsley's victory margin being much less than Skipton's, the Reds moved above both to head the division at this early stage.