Sandal Warriors travelled to Skipton on Sunday looking to get back to winning ways after their close loss to Yarnbury a few weeks ago.

Team news was that Caeli Porette–Moss was back along with Abi Dickinson, Cerys Gregory was back from Uni to play and Alice O Connor was set to make her Sandal Warriors debut, though Rachael Silverwood was missing.

The start of the match was a forward battle with both sets of forwards taking the ball close to the ruck and trying to assert dominance, leading to a scrappy start of the game, with the referee stamping his authority at every chance.

In a rare passage of continuity from the Warriors they settled into the groove of previous games and Lissy Sampson freed Oceana Faulkner to score out Wide, Captain Bagshaw hitting the post with the conversion. 5-0.

Skipton then had a prolonged stint of possession, without really going anywhere, the Sandal Warriors’ defence holding firm, with some massive hits leading the way from Amanda Wilson who had been introduced. When the Warriors did eventually regain possession they were guilty of handing it straight back to Skipton, who then made a bit more headway, though not for lack of the Warriors defence, when Abi Dickinson was sin binned for a professional foul at the breakdown this pressure eventually told and Skipton crossed under the posts, though the kick was missed. 5-5.

This sparked the Warriors into life and for the last 10 minutes of the first half Sandal Warriors played their usual game plan, with Caeli Porette-Moss making more ground, along with Lissy Sampson.

Half time 5-5.

The second half continued with Skipton testing the Warriors’ close defence and Sandal Warriors beating them back, there was now some niggle in the game due to so many decisions been given for what seemed like innocuous things. This led to several flash points that seemed to galvanise the Warriors’, and led to a quickfire double by Robyn Patterson for Sandal Warriors, 1 from a trademark mark run & steal and the other from a pick and go from the base of the scrum, Bagshaw converting one to make the score 17- 5 to Sandal Warriors.

Skipton then threw the kitchen sink at Sandal Warriors, but it was very 1 dimensional and the strong tackling of Mills, Bagshaw, Falloon, Parker, Macklin, Gelder & Wilson kept them at bay, with Sampson making several important turnovers.

Once again the Warriors changed the focus of attack, with Gregory directing things bringing Porette, Greensmith and O Connor into it more, and tiring the big Skipton pack even more. Tempers once again flared and Falloon had to leave the field with a nasty head wound, there was chance for a few more fine offload moves through the middle of the tiring Skipton pack before the final whistle blew.
17-5 to Sandal.

The Warriors’ defence was devastating, with a massive impact from Wilson off the bench. The last 2 games have forged the Sandal Warriors’ squad into a tight knit group, with players making connections in adverse conditions.

Coaches player of the match was Robyn Patterson, who’s engine is always at full rev, and scored 2 vital trys and so many crucial tackles and turnovers.

Players player was Amanda Wilson, who’s impact of the bench shook the team into action.

Opposition Player was Naomi Gelder for her constant sportsmanship through the game.

Sandal Warriors now break for Xmas before welcoming North Ribblesdale on the 11th January to Sandal RUFC and continue their league campaign. It would be great to see you there for a 2pm kick off.