IT was heart break for injury depleted Skipton, who were held up twice over the line and lost again by one penalty goal from the last kick of the game.

Some good surging runs saw Skipton start strongly but a break away try down the left wing against the run of play saw the Medics open the scoring with an unconverted try.

Skipton centre Joe Gill picked up a knee injury early in the game, being replaced in the back line by Andy Maclean, and a second unconverted try from the Medics before Skipton could settle put them 10 points clear.

Sustained pressure then saw Skipton reply with a Joe Hayes try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but Jonny Tomes-Green had a second chance at goal a few minutes later with a penalty for the Medics off-side. He slotted the kick and the sides turned round at 10-8 in the visitors' favour.

Tomes-Green was back in action again immediately after the break, when a superb counter-attack by full-back Luther Hall put him clear for a try. He added the extras himself and Skipton took the lead at 15-10.

Skipton then put a penalty kick into the corner and were over from the line-out but adjudged held-up. They returned the goal line drop-out and were over again after pressure on the Medics line but were adjudged held-up for a second time.

Skipton had the Lion's share of possession and a high tackle by Medics gave Tomes-Green another shot at goal. The kick was good, and Skipton were clear by 18-10.

Medics countered from the re-start, putting the ball through many phases, and gained a converted try to bring them just one point short of the home side. A tense last ten minutes ensued until disaster struck for Skipton, conceding a penalty in front of the posts on the stroke of full-time.

The Medics slotted the kick to take the game, to the dismay of the sizeable Sandylands crowd, as Skipton fell to a 20-18 defeat.