Yorkshire Division Three

Skipton 8 Leeds Corinthians 42

(Half-time 3-15)

No Red complaints

Yorkshire Division Three

Skipton 8 Leeds Corinthians 42

Skipton can have no complaints about this defeat as the Yorkshire Silver Trophy holders demonstrated the gulf in fitness and team play that the Reds have to bridge if they are to become serious promotion candidates next season, writes Andy Rhodes.

Straight from the kick-off the Leeds outfit went on the offensive and they would have taken the lead within minutes without the intervention of Matt Jones who produced the first of many try-saving tackles in his first match back from injury.

The Red line was finally breached after 22 minutes when Leeds' outstanding captain Nick Smith broke from a driving maul to give his side a deserved lead.

Within minutes another period of pressure by the visitors resulted in their No 7 breaking through several would-be tackles to score a try which was converted by their left winger Kelly.

From the restart Skipton enjoyed their best period of the game but all they had to show for it was a penalty by scrum-half Oldfield.

The half ended with the Leeds left winger converting a penalty to bring up a 15-3 lead for the visitors.

Leeds pushed home their territorial advantage within minutes of the restart when Smith scored his second try after his forwards had produced excellent second-phase possession. And the No 11 added a further penalty to stretch his side's lead to 23-3.

Just when the home supporters were sensing a runaway victory for the visitors home captain Adam Winthrop conjured up an excellent break from the base of the scrum to feed left winger George Smithson who scored.

Further crunching tackles by fullback Jones saved the Reds from going further behind, but any thoughts of a comeback were dispelled when the Leeds outfit produced some classic rugby to score further tries via their talented fly-half, right winger and left winger and two of these were converted by the left winger.

Unlike in the Silver Trophy Final Skipton were completely outplayed and outfought by Corinthians. Although the Sandylands outfit have suffered many league reversals this season a large percentage of them have not been a fair reflection of the games, but this particular encounter saw the Reds clearly finish second best in most departments. Indeed if it had not been for a magnificent display of defensive rugby by Jones the defeat would have been greater.

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