Selby 16

Ilkley 28

A perfect day for rugby at the pleasant Sandhill Lane clubhouse and grounds greeted the Dalesmen and their large band of followers for the first ever league fixture between these two clubs at Selby.

Ilkley were on a roll having chalked up three out of three league victories. Selby were also on a high, having reached the quarter-finals of the national Intermediate Cup competition with the prospect of facing Staines RFC and a whole host of ex-England and other international stars to progress to the semis.

In the end it was the Ilkley hunger for league points that came out on top. For Selby it was a case of the week after the Lord Mayor's show.

The Dalesmen played at their best for the first five minutes of the first- half, then defended like tigers for the rest of it as Selby threw everything at them but came away with just one try and a penalty goal.

In fact Anthony Cadman had a chance to put Ilkley 10-8 ahead on the stroke of half-time but his kick drifted wide. Nonetheless Richard Midgely's men would have been relieved to go in at half-time only 8-7 down.

It was the dream start for the Dalesmen, as a series of great phases of re-cycled ball followed by a ball whipped out to the right wing was stopped just short. Stuart Vincent set it up well and across the line it went to find Brendan Kelley on the left with just enough space on the wing to squeeze in for a try.

Cadman slotted the conversion over to set his day up on a high note and Ilkley were 7-0 in front.

With memories of a similar start against Selby at home fresh in the mind when an 18-3 lead turned into an 18-all draw no one in the Ilkley crowd was over-confident.

This cautiousness was justified as the game seemed to turn inexorably in Selby's favour.

Having pushed the Selby scrum back in the first set piece the Ilkley scrum began to look decidedly wobbly. It went backwards too many times for comfort and put young Ollie Coughlan in all kinds of trouble at the base of the scrum.

This unfamiliar disadvantage also put the Ilkley back row under pressure as they were caught in inevitable offside positions too often. As the half reached 30 minutes Charlie Cudworth got the wrong side once too often for the liking of Mr Sutherland and he had to spend the last ten minutes in the sin-bin.

Selby scrum half Matt Smith was able to disrupt Coughlan's normally reliable service. It was from just this situation that their onslaught began. Dan Porter was entrusted with kicking duties and soon had a penalty just outside his 22 and halfway out. His kick was wide.

Selby came back time and time again. A scoring pass was knocked on. A line-out close in was not straight. A pass was forward. A forward move was messed up. All the time Ilkley defended with courage and tenacity.

Frustration set in to the Selby ranks as they fought vainly to make the huge percentage of possession tell. Simon Smith, Vincent and Sean Gilbert pulled off majestic tackles but the spotlight fell on two crunching Kelley tackles and the never-say-die attitude of the Dalesmen's back row.

Finally they had to settle for a penalty goal to claw their way back. Porter obliging from in front this time.

Cudworth's yellow card came on 26 minutes and even then Ilkley held out another seven before their line was stretched once too often. Winger Andy Bennett picked up a poor pass to force his way over wide out. The kick was wide but the men in green were a point ahead at 8-7.

More of the same followed with Selby's supporters becoming more and more vocal at their team's failure to string good phases together.

As if to prelude the second-half action Ilkley made their first visit to their opponents' 22 since scoring with Vincent going close on the right before Cadman got his penalty chance. Cudworth returned and to Ilkley's relief half-time was called.

Would Midgley's magic work again?

Mike Noble, who had been struggling with a calf muscle injury, was withdrawn and second team stalwart Martin Hemingway entered the fray.

Sure enough the scrums settled down and Ilkley were firm again. This provided the platform for a second- half display of rare quality and pace, with Cadman showing all of his tremendous repertoire and spatial awareness.

The Dalesmen scored three tries to one with only a late penalty from Toby Pemberton to spoil the party.

Ilkley's play shook off the first-half nerves and became expansive. First that man Kelley set up a score for himself with a bullocking run into the Selby 22. He was driven on by his pack and two phases later was there to take a scoring pass and crash over for his second try. Cadman improved it to make it 8-14.

Coughlan put Ilkley back on the Selby line with a fine box kick but it was just too deep and Selby escaped with a drop out. More Ilkley pressure saw a chance go begging as Nick Brook's pass just went to ground. A rumble off a line-out five metres out went over but Ilkley were penalised for off-side.

Then another opportunity was foiled. Brook charged over the Selby line, ball under his arm. As he went down to score the Selby tackler nudged the ball loose and Ilkley had only a five metre scrum for that effort. Perhaps a lower trajectory would have secured the try.

But the signs were good. When the home side did counter the tackling was superb. Again Smith, Bell and wingers Vincent and Kelley saw off Selby forays, Smith taking man and ball twice.

Tony Greig who had had a solid game gave way to the fleet-of-foot BJ Fowler.

Ilkley took play back into the Selby 22. A penalty set up a good line ten metes out. The ball came back for Cadman to set up Gilbert coming into the line at speed. He showed the ball twice as shimmied past three defenders to score. Cadman improved that to make it 8-21.

Then Selby got a glimmer of hope as Ilkley went to sleep after Gilbert was tackled into touch on his 22. A penalty was taken quickly and the ball fizzed out to try-machine Shaun Austerfield who outpaced the flat-footed Ilkley defenders to score. The kick was unsuccessful, the score 13- 21 with 25 minutes gone.

Ilkley went back into Selby territory but this time Selby hit back. A massive try saving tackle by Gilbert on Porter led to the latter's substitution. Nerves were calmed and the Selby fight back blunted.

With five minutes to go came the try of the match. Kelley, always in the thick of it put Gilbert away down the left. Gilbert found BJ Fowler galloping up behind him and Fowler sprinted in from 30 metres out to round off the Ilkley's scoring spree with style. Cadman again slotted his kick over and with referee Mr Sutherland indicating ten minutes to go, nothing was more certain than that Selby would go for broke.

Ilkley hung on well to contain their tired opponents allowing them only a penalty goal from Pemberton for their troubles. This was a great result for the resurgent Ilkley who now look forward to welcoming Crossleyans to Stacks Field on Saturday.

This one is also a 'four pointer' Ilkley having moved to within two points of the 'Crocs'. They could go above them on points difference. It promises to be another nail-biter and will be great entertainment for the large group of supporters who will be taking lunch beforehand. Kick-off is 2.15 pm.