Skipton 31 Bradford & Bingley II 0

WITH no league fixture, Skipton arranged a friendly at Sandylands against Bradford & Bingley Seconds.

The home side made a strong start, with the forwards pushing the Bees second string off the ball in the first three scrums.

The first put Redver Stork-Flatley clear but a forward pass under the posts denied an early try.

Quick hands from the next scrum got winger Josh Smith within yards of the line, only for him to be held up.

But Skipton's forward dominance had been established and, from a five-metre scrum, they secured a pushover try, with No 8 Ben Hall touching down.

A long-range penalty into the corner gave Skipton good field position, and quick hands from scrum half Jonathan Kulik put Matty Langstaff through for try number two, the latter adding the extras himself.

The visitors began to settle into the game and exerted some pressure on the Skipton line but a clearance kick failed to find touch, and Skipton sent the ball down the back line to put winger Smith in under the posts for his first try of the afternoon.

Langstaff again added the extra points, and the sides turned round at 19-0 in the home side's favour.

Skipton's forward dominance continued into the second half, firstly when they took a scrum against the head and then when they opted for the scrum from a penalty on the visitors' 22, which put winger Smith in under the posts for the second time, replacement stand-off Jamie Donnelly adding the extra points.

Bradford & Bingley then pinned Skipton back on their own line with a penalty kick into the corner, and secured two further penalties for an infringement at the line-out and offside but Skipton's defence remained firm and the visitors were unable to cross the line.

The Bees then had the put-in from a Skipton knock-on but replacement hooker Zak Bullock took the ball against the head for the home side and a kick and chase put them downfield again.

Prop Chris Wright picked up from the ruck and drove through, securing a penalty which took Skipton to the visitors' line.

A poor clearance by the Bees gave Smith the ball, and a clean run down the wing gave him his third try and a final score of 31-0.

The home side's man of the match was utility back-row Will Huggins for tremendous forward work throughout the game.

Huggins began his rugby career with Skipton Colts ten years ago and has returned to Sandylands after a spell at Bradford University.