Despite some tremendous attacking rugby in the second half of their Counties Three Yorkshire clash at Rotherham Phoenix on Saturday, Skipton suffered a narrow 17-10 defeat and came home with just a losing bonus point.

A sunny autumn day with a strong cross-field breeze greeted the teams at the Herringthorpe playing fields.

Early possession and pressure by Rotherham was countered nicely by Skipton.

The visitors then advanced down field and a great rolling maul from the line-out saw them go close, but a knock-on ended the move and Phoenix cleared from the scrum.

Skipton soon gained a penalty but the attempt at goal to give them the lead drifted wide in the breeze.

The big Phoenix pack drove Skipton off the ball and gained a penalty down field, from which they tapped and ran in the opening try of the day, though the conversion went wide.

Good pressure by Skipton from the restart gave them two penalties into the corner and a rolling maul from the second saw the ball shipped down the line to put winger Silas Holden over to level the scores.

Full-back Hamish Munro was unlucky when the conversion attempt from wide out hit the post and the sides reached the break level at 5-5.

A great start to the second half saw an incisive run by Charlie Brown, this week starting at centre, and great backing up by Will Havers-Strong brought Skipton close, but Phoenix stole possession.

It soon got worse for the visitors, as back row Alex Cruise-Brown picked up a knock to the ankle.

He was replaced by Tom Lacey, who immediately made his presence felt with some crunching tackles.

Phoenix picked up a yellow card but maintained the pressure on Skipton and, despite solid defence by the visitors, they eventually went over in the corner for a second unconverted try.

Skipton head coach Neil Spence then made two changes to his pack, replacing Bill Bevan and Jordan Wilson with Michael Smith and Macale Halliday, but Phoenix ran in a third try, converting this one, before the changes had chance to settle in.

Skipton then entered their best period of the game, going straight back at the home side with wave after wave of attack.

Ed Harrison at No.8 was the pick of the forwards and he went over for Skipton's second try after sustained pressure and many phases of play.

The conversion attempt drifted wide and Skipton were unable to score again, as they fell to defeat.

Skipton, who have now only won one of their opening six league games, will look to bounce back at home to mid-table Thornensians this coming Saturday.