Wharfedale 5

Ilkley B 26

Ilkley Thirds visited old friends Wharfedale with an experienced pack and two full sets of backs to experiment with.

Ilkley set off full of confidence but characteristically spent the first ten minutes pinned against their own try line battling to stop the home side from scoring.

Matters were not helped after 15 minutes when captain Gillon was carried off the field, for the first time in 30 years, with a back injury.

But, true to form, Ilkley plugged away, and were rewarded shortly with a breakaway try from winger Earnshaw.

Half-time saw the scores level, and a few changes imposed in the backs. Wharfedale started the second-half the strongest, and gave Ilkley a few frights early on but determined defence work kept them at bay.

It was smiles all round a few minutes later when centre Draper touched down following a fine team effort.

Quarter backs Monkman and Benson impressed the sidelined captain with their base play domination.

The forwards now began to run the show, and Davison lumbered over in the last ten minutes, followed by breakaway try from No 8 Dan Adam to put the game firmly out of Wharfedale's reach.

This was a typical dogged third team performance typified by a sluggish start but finishing like a tornado.