Skipton ran out for easier winners against Norrthallerton than the 15-3 scoreline suggests.

For the first 15 minutes Skipton held the ascendancy, probing, but never quite doing enough to score.

Grant Litt looked lively in the centre and almost broke through, while Paul Lacy looked sharp on the right wing and it was this combination that produced the first try when Lacy was given a hint of space and easily outpaced the defence to score in the corner.

Darren Howson's excellent conversion opened up a seven-point gap.

Lacy had another fine run and then second-row Graham Newhouse burst through the middle. When the ball was moved out to Matthew Cox on the left, he cleverly drew the tackler and offloaded to Litt, who had looped round him, just finding enough room to score wide out in the corner.

Howson's conversion attempt was just wide, but Skipton now led 12-0.

Within five minutes Northallerton were a little lucky to get on the score-sheet. A fine jinking run from Howson, in his own half, was only halted by an over zealous referee, who decided crossing had taken place.

Tucker slotted over the resultant penalty to narrow the score to 12-3, which remained the state of play at the interval.

Ian Sneddon came on at centre with Litt moving to scrum-half.

Ex-Northallerton player Mike Beech was having a fine game at full-back. While he didn't need to make any last-ditch, try-saving tackles, his fielding of kicks was exemplary and usually returned with interest.

Howson had another good run and when he wasn't allowed to release the ball was able to convert the resultant penalty.

The visitors had long since seemed to accept their fate and, although they had a spell of pressure towards the end of the game, rarely threatened in the second-half.