OLD Otliensians added another piece of knockout silverware as their players bade farewell to departing coach John Walker.

With the Aire-Wharfe Cup safely in the trophy cabinet, they survived a first-half wobble on a night of dazzling wing play to win the Yorkshire Silver Trophy final by defeating Skipton 36-22 at a sunny Shay Lane.

Skipton, promoted to Ensians' division next season as runners-up in Yorkshire Division Four, made a dreadful start, conceding their first try in the opening minute and almost leaking a second two minutes later.

They went 14-0 down after 16 minutes, bounced back to 14-10 just three minutes later but were out of hope at 29-10 adrift before scoring two of the last three tries.

Ensians skipper Sam Featherstone said: "The league season began very well (six wins out of nine) until injuries hit us – but I have been here all of the time with John Walker (who took over in July 2011) and it has been great to finish the season with two cups for him.

"What we need to do next season is build a stronger second team so that they can step up when we have injuries to the first team. We also want to get to Twickenham and win."

Skipton coach Dave Duxbury reflected: "We achieved what we wanted out of the season (promotion) and probably a bit more as we beat two Yorkshire Division Three teams (Wensleydale, Baildon) on the way to the Silver Trophy final.

"The 15 who represented us were not quite good enough on the night but there is a good base for next season."

Otliensians displayed their potential in the backs with their opening attack. Fly half Will Cooper found centre Ollie Eaves, who ran a good line to put full back Alex Murphy over for Connor Bateman to convert.

It needed a try-saving tackle by Skipton right winger Josh Smith to stop Bateman two minutes later after a break by Murphy, while lock Jack Smith was held up over the line in the 14th minute after a swift dart.

Ensians did break the whitewash in the 16th minute, Eaves scoring from a short pass to make it 14-0 after a team-mate had been held up over the line.

Skipton desperately needed something to happen and, remarkably, they were back to four points adrift just three minutes later. Fly half Carl Paterson kicked an 18th-minute penalty and converted Josh Smith's try, following the winger's pacy and powerful run down the left, a minute afterwards.

Yet the reds paid the penalty for failing to capitalise on three opportunities before the interval, including Patterson missing a penalty in stoppage time.

Three minutes earlier, flanker Ollie Cooper had gone over for clinical Ensians' third try, Bateman's conversion putting them 21-10 ahead.

Bateman's try from a standing start ten minutes into the second half, in which the winger showed pace, footwork and strength to cross from deep, extended their lead and his 55th-minute penalty made it 29-10.

Murphy's vital midfield ankle tap on Skipton full back Hamish Munro stopped the imminent danger of a Skipton try in the 71st minute but the reds kept possession and moved the attack right and then left for Josh Smith to get his second try.

Ensians had replacement prop Paddy Phipps sin-binned by referee Glen Cockroft for offside in the aftermath – but the Chaffers Field club made light of being a man short when Bateman ran back a Patterson kick, their passing being speedy and precise to put winger Josh Howarth over on the right, his run to the posts making Bateman's conversion easier.

Josh Smith's attack down the right for Skipton in the 80th minute, in which he showed pace, strength and footwork as he flirted with the touchline, would have resulted in the try of the night – and he had some competition – but for a foot in touch.

But a minute later they scored a more mundane pushover try for No 8 Harry McEneaney, Paterson's conversion almost bringing down the curtain on the 2016-17 season.

Yorkshire's bid to win the Bill Beaumont Senior Men's County Championship apart (they face Northumberland at Alnwick on Saturday) in a group match, attention now turns to Yorkshire Carnegie's attempt to beat London Irish over two legs (May 17 and 24) in the Championship play-off final and thereby win a place in the Premiership.