Eastside Record Intact as Skirlaugh Overcome Distington

Skirlaugh got their group play-off campaign off to the perfect start with a 32–16 victory over Distington at Eastside, producing a controlled performance in a game where the home side rarely needed to move out of second gear.

The Cumbrian visitors arrived with plenty of energy and enthusiasm and showed exactly why they had finished fourth in their respective league. Distington enjoyed the better field position during the opening quarter, with back-to-back penalties giving them several opportunities inside the Skirlaugh 20.

However, the black and amber wall held firm, and having absorbed the early pressure, Skirlaugh began to find their rhythm.

Excellent yardage carries from Matty King and Josh Atkinson provided quick play-the-balls for the Skirlaugh pack, with Matty Shepherdson and George Thompson beginning to eat up the metres through the middle.

The breakthrough soon followed. Kieran Smith produced one of his trademark dummies to slice through the defensive line before swerving around the full-back from 30 metres out and touching down to the left of the posts. Josh Smith converted for 6–0.

Skirlaugh struck again shortly afterwards, with Kieran Smith this time turning provider. His early wide pass found back-rower Jack Taylor, who showed superb footwork to ghost through the line before rounding the full-back and racing 40 metres untouched to score underneath the posts.

Josh Smith added the extras and at 12–0, Skirlaugh were firmly in control.

A spell of poor discipline from the hosts then allowed Distington back into the contest. The visitors again found themselves attacking the Skirlaugh line, where a smart piece of play from half-back Scott George created the space for Distington’s number 11 to cross beneath the posts.

At 12–6 the visitors had some momentum, but Skirlaugh quickly wrestled it back.

Good approach work involving Josh Smith, Keane Dearlove and Makesi David created the position before Lochlan Fitzgerald delivered a perfectly timed tunnel ball to the in-form Nath Dunn, who finished well out wide.

Josh Smith then produced an excellent conversion from just inside the touchline to send Skirlaugh into the break with an 18–6 advantage.

Distington fight back

The opening stages of the second half developed into more of an arm wrestle, and Distington were handed a route back into the contest when their number seven intercepted a pass from the base of a Skirlaugh scrum. Despite appeals for offside from the home touchline, the try was awarded and the conversion reduced the deficit to 18–12.

Game on — but Skirlaugh had other ideas.

Keane Dearlove was beginning to cause real problems around the ruck, making metres at will through the Distington middle, while eventual Man of the Match George Thompson continued an outstanding afternoon with powerful carries and some excellent defensive work.

The pressure eventually told.

First-team debutant Jack Sutton, introduced from the bench, found space and put prop Keegan Foster through a gap. Foster needed no second invitation, powering through and charging over from around 30 metres for an excellent try.

Josh Smith maintained his perfect afternoon from the tee to push Skirlaugh back into a two-score lead.

The energy continued through Atkinson, Ben Hookem and Callum Smith, helping Skirlaugh establish more good field position. When Distington were penalised for a high tackle, Josh Smith calmly knocked over the penalty goal to add another two points.

Skirlaugh weren’t finished.

Another strong set featuring Dearlove, Hookem and Thompson took the home side deep into Distington territory before a slick move down the left opened them up. Kieran Smith moved the ball to Josh Smith looping around the back, who produced a lovely offload to release Matty King.

The winger did the rest, racing away from around halfway for a superb try to put the result beyond doubt. Josh Smith again added the extras.

Distington managed a late consolation try with seconds remaining, but the afternoon belonged to Skirlaugh as they closed out an impressive 32–16 victory and made the ideal start to their play-off campaign.

It was a performance built on defensive resilience, strong carries and patience. Distington certainly made Skirlaugh work for it, but when the opportunities arrived, the home side had the quality to take them.

Man of the Match: George Thompson

 Try Scorers
🏉 Kieran Smith
🏉Jack Taylor
🏉 Nath Dunn
🏉 Keegan Foster
🏉 Matty King

Goals:
🎯 Josh Smith 5/5
Penalty Goal
🎯 Josh Smith 1/1