REPORT BY: DECLAN HAYES 

SKIPTON registered a four try bonus point win at home to Thornensians in still autumn conditions, to the delight of the Sandylands crowd on Saturday.

Early pressure from Skipton saw them into the corner and a series of rolling mauls from the line-out eventually saw back-row Charlie Brown over for the home side's opening try. Stand-off Callum Patrick struck a sweet kick from wide out to add the extras.

Thornensians replied with two long range penalty kicks down field. Skipton cleared but the bounce favoured the visitors, and they ran in an unconverted try through the Skipton defence.

Thornensians then picked up a yellow card for a very high tackle by their prop on back-row Jordan Wlson but, notwithstanding being a man down, chipped through and caught Michael Tam isolated on his own line. He conceded a penalty and the visitors slotted the kick to take a one point lead at half-time.

Skipton started the second-half with another great period of pressure and, 12 minutes in, a great run by second-row Ed Harrison saw quickly recycled ball from scrum-half Jake Emmison to Patrick who had centre Anthony Chapman on his inside shoulder for a sweet try under the posts. Patrick added the extras.

Skipton then picked up a yellow card themselves but had the bit between their teeth and, after a 50-metre run by Charlie Brown, Patrick was in for try number three. He added the extras again.

Will Havers-Strong then replaced Jordan Wilson in the back-row for Skipton, Michael Smith came on for Alex Burnett and Silas Holden replaced Zobair Hussain on the wing.

With five minutes remaining, Patrick had to retire injured, forcing a hasty re-arrangement of the Skipton back-line. Thornensians then picked up two further yellow cards in as many minutes. Skipton put the ball into the corner from the first and gained the second just five metres out, from which Joe Moorhouse ran in Skipton's fourth try with the last play of the game.

Michael Tam added the extras to give a final score of 28-8 in Skipton's favour.