Ilkley 29, Beverley 54

On a perfect spring day at stacks field Beverley came with a virtually full-strength side determined to add the Yorkshire Shield to the Powergen Yorkshire two league trophy, which is already in the bag.

They might well have expected to score eight tries against an Ilkley side with fifteen of the first team squad unavailable for duty. They certainly did not reckon with conceding four and actually being behind for much of the first period.

Ilkley's back line contained only one regular first-teamer, Simon Smith with Anthony Cadman playing out of position at scrum half. Whilst the pack was made up of first team squad players, a number of regulars were missing.

There was even the remarkable sight of David Duxbury deputising at stand-off. He gave the crowd a real treat as he delicately chipped the ball over the Beverley defence, took the ball on the bounce and positively shook off at least three tacklers before finding himself with only the centre to beat and two metres to go.

Unable to take off and dive over he transferred the ball from left hand to right to enable a hand-off but tragically in doing so dropped it in the process. That would have put his side 10-7 up.

Notwithstanding the ground gained was almost immediately capitalised on after Justin Hewitt had set up a line-out on the Beverley 22. B-J Fowler, the arch stealer of line-out ball, stole the Beverley line.

Cadman found Duxbury, now recovered from his blunder, and Duxbury found his second team colleague Andy Hinchcliffe charging through to go in under the posts. That made it 10-7 but with a two try buffer the story may just have had a different outcome.

Ilkley had started brightly enough and Hewitt's penalty after five minutes was due reward for enterprise. However, it was not long before the excellent Beverley back line got into action opening up Ilkley's defence down the left, Umberto Cuozzo going in for his first try.

Ilkley got their nose in front for the only time in this excellent game and held on for five minutes before a series of mistakes down the left allowed the East Yorkshiremen to whip the ball out wide right where promising young back rower Craig Hancock was waiting to weave his way in and under for his side's second try.

Then the Dalesmen looked vulnerable and shell-shocked. Beverley had them pinned in their own 22 after a clearance was charged down. A line-out was won and inspirational player coach Antony Poser found acres of space and a complete lack of tacklers to go in for try number three. At 10- 21 things looked bleak for Ilkley.

They looked even bleaker as winger Pickering burst his way out of two tackles on the left and sped in for another try to make it 10-28. Pickering added another minutes later in an identical scenario.

He appeared to have been stopped but his power and strength again told as he burst away for his second try. At 10-33 a cricket score looked possible, but Ilkley are made of sterner stuff these days. First mighty Mike Leeson was unlucky not be awarded a try, referee Mr Taylor ruling he was held up, when even the Beverley players called a score.

Those doughty second XV players are not accustomed to losing, and it was Hinchcliffe and Phil Merkin who conjured up a try for the Dalesmen as the half closed.

At 17-33 there was at least a glimmer of hope.

Fred Matthews was withdrawn by coach Richard Midgeley, Martin Hemingway deputising.

This did not affect the srummaging power of the Dalesmen who maintained the upper hand in this department all afternoon.

Again Ilkley found themselves under pressure as the second-half opened but some promising running from Smith and Merkin took play into the Beverley half.

Unfortunately the ball was lost and Poser found a gaping hole, only being closed down 15 metres out. He had time to wait for the arrival of centre John Fisher who completed the job, increasing the lead to 17-40.

Andy Pell was replaced by Joe Widdup after his game became a little overheated. Pell had epitomised the Ilkley spirit. He is a fierce competitor.

Another great break by the old warhorse Hinchcliffe and Fowler forced Beverley to infringe. Hewitt's kick was long to touch. IIkley took the line imperiously and drove on. Gus Rogers got the touchdown to reduce the deficit to 24-40.

There was a five minute relief from the try fest as play became rather messy and more than a little excited and excitable.

Smith and Merkin produced another escape by running out from their own line but a knock on put the greens back into Ilkley's 22, full back Barnes being dragged down by Chris Weatherby two metres short. Cuozzo only had to pick up a fall over the line to add another try.

Excellent flanker Hancock rounded off the Beverley scoring with a try after good work down the right put him in to make their haul for the day 54 points.

Cadman, Rogers and Man-of-the-Match Hinchcliffe combined to put Phil Merkin in for his second score in the corner to reduce the deficit to 25 points, the final score being 29-54.

Archibald converted seven out of eight for Beverley, Hewitt three out four for Ilkley.

Ilkley are out of the Shield in the third round but have actually played only this game, having progressed this far with a bye and a walkover.

Beverley's eyes are now firmly on this trophy but they return this week to Stacks Field for the vital league encounter when they will find the Dalesmen back to strength.

There were lots of positives in defeat for Richard Midgeley to ponder over the week ahead. Not least of which was the performance of the players called up from the second team, Fowler and Hinchcliffe having particularly good games, but all of them acquitting themselves well.

As for Beverley, they are an outstanding side with three Kiwis, hooker Freear and fly half Poser having tremendous games.

However Ilkley proved at Beverley that the league champions are beatable, going down only in the final quarter, and today they proved again that they can be broken.

The league game this week should be one to savour.

Ilkley must win to maintain their precarious one point advantage over Twickenham finalists North Ribblesdale.

The question is: will that Twickenham final take Rib's eye off the league?

This exciting and absorbing season continues: kick off for the re-match with Beverley is 3 p.m.