Skipton face a far bigger test this weekend than the challenge that they will face from Ripon in their Yorkshire Division Two league game at Sandylands.

The primary task facing the team will be to get ride of the baggage of disappointment after last weekend's Powergen Junior Vase semi-final defeat and put together a decent performance.

It is important, therefore, that the management and the team set themselves some goals for the closing weeks so that they do not become so pre-occupied with a defeat that the season trails off into nothing.

Having reached the last four of the Vase, Skipton merely confirmed what their final league placing last season had already underlined - that they are no longer down among the fledgling teams, the 'singers and suppers', the works outfits, the banks, the RAF Akrotiri et al.

Defeat by Heath should not be the end of the story for the 2001/2 season. Promotion for a third season is not possible, but if the Reds are able to cast last weekend aside and reposition their sights on adding a third or fourth place finish to their semi-final run, they will have something of value still to work for.

Skipton have the same players on duty as last weekend as they bid for revenge against a team on the same number of points who beat them in the last minute at the start of the season.