Skipton 19 Baildon 12
TWO tries from skipper Hamish Munro and a third from back row Harry McEneaney, in his 101st senior appearance for the club, secured Skipton's third straight win in Yorkshire Three.
An early Skipton penalty for a Baildon high tackle went wide of the posts and the home side had to endure a period of sustained Baildon pressure until a knock-on gave them the scrum in good field position. Fast, sweet ball from Kiwi signing Yvarne Carroll at stand-off put Munro clear for Skipton's opening try. Carroll added the extra points.
Although Skipton gained a penalty and put the ball downfield in the next phase of play, Baildon countered and the home side conceded a penalty under their posts for going over the ball. The visitors slotted the kick to claw back three points.
Skipton gained a scrum from the restart for a Baildon knock-on but, unusually, lost the ball against the head. Baildon gained a penalty for Skipton killing the ball in the resultant ruck. They opted for goal, the kick was successful and the sides turned round with Skipton leading 7-6.
The second period did not start well for the home side. The kick-off did not go 10 metres, giving Baildon a scrum.
An early penalty for Skipton handling on the floor then followed. The kick was again successful and gave Baildon the lead.
Skipton coach Craig Bartlett sent Shaun Barraclough on at scrum-half to replace Jonathan Kulik and a few moments later had to make an enforced change as Carroll had to leave the field following a knock to the head, being replaced by Sam Brearley.
Before the home side had chance to re-adjust they conceded penalty under their posts for killing the ball and Baildon stretched their lead to 12-7.
Skipton then entered their best period of play of the game, with driving forward work downfield eventually putting Munro over for their second try.
Munro added the extra points himself. A blind side break from a Skipton scrum following the re-start saw Barraclough put McEneaney away.
He put in a superb kick through for full-back Jack McLeod to run onto and from the line-out a rolling maul by the Skipton forwards saw Barraclough held up just short.
Skipton gained a penalty back for an earlier infringement and McEneaney was over for the home side's third try in his 101st senior appearance.
The conversion attempt drifted wide and a late penalty to Skipton for Baildon going over the top was also unsuccessful but the home side had secured victory at 19-12.
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