Leodiensians 28, Ilkley 25

Ilkley travelled to North Leeds outfit Leodiensians for the second week in a row, this time to contest the second round of the Yorkshire Shield.

They had passed through the first round in a walk over, Baildon having defaulted on the fixture. Leos had progressed through a substantially more difficult route, having put out League leaders and now champions Keighley in round one.

There was also the bitter taste of a mauling at the hands of Ilkley the previous week in the league encounter still in Leos' mouths. This, therefore, would be no pushover for Ilkley, no fixture at Leodiensians ever is.

Ilkley fielded a substantially changed side from the previous week, mainly due to injury or untimely holidays. It was still a strong side bristling with experience and talent and with a renewed appetite for winning.

It is no surprise that this re-match turned out to be a cliffhanger, with the lead changing hands twice in each half.

Leos started the stronger with the ever ready Dan Eddie showing all his class and experience with both hand and boot.

If anything influenced the outcome of this game it was Ilkley's old habit of giving away penalties. They were lucky to escape as the usually steady Eddie missed an early kick at goal.

The players, and indeed the large Ilkley crowd, were bemused by many of the referee's decisions but Ilkley do seem to be unable to pick up on refereeing idiosyncrasies and fall victim to the same decisions time and time again. Surely there is a lesson here: learn to read the referee early on and then play to his tune.

Leos finally took the lead at the end of the game the same predictable way; a penalty for hands on on the Ilkley 22 which gave the steady Eddie an easy kick at goal. Shield aspirations extinguished not by superior play but by indiscretion.

That final score took the score from 25-25 to 28-25 after what had been an absorbing game of rugby played in good spirit.

Ilkley's opening score was a most unusual penalty try awarded as Simon Smtih was tackled before receiving an inside pass from Sean Gilbert as far out as the 22 metre line.

Gilbert, on kicking duty in the absence of Cadman, put the kick over off the upright and Ilkley were in front 7-0. Almost immediately Eddie hit back with a beautifully weighted chip for Barlow to run onto under the posts. His kick was good. Leos were level 7-7.

The try was set up after another Ilkley infringement had given Leos a throw deep in Ilkley territory. The line was secured and from second phase Eddie was given too much space.

The Dalesmen were pressing hard with the backs showing enterprise and considerable bravery in the tackle. They were disadvantaged for ten minutes as Ben MacDonald was sin-binned for questioning one of the more bizarre refereeing decisions.

It slowed Ilkley's counter down and eventually the Leeds outfit found space out wide. The ball was whipped out across the backs and, despite vigorous calls for a forward pass, wingman Smith was over to put Leos 12-7 in front.

MacDonald was restored to the fray and Ilkley were immediately back on the attack. Gus Rogers broke through a ruck and was just held up on the line. The resulting scrum was won and Simon Smith charged over for a well-deserved try. Gilbert converted to put his side in front 14-12. Smith was almost in again as he was just held back by his shirt collar as he shaped to go in for a score.

Then back came Leos, again as a result of a penalty for a handling indiscretion This time they pinned Ilkley back, spurning the chance to kick at goal until they finally breached the Dalesmen's defence as Phil Merkin missed a rare tackle out wide allowing wingman Griffin in at the corner and restoring the lead to 17-14. Gilbert added a penalty to make it all square at half-time 17-17.

Coach Richard Midgeley brought Allan Moffat off and Craig MacLoughlin on. A penalty for each side took the scores to 20-20 and the end-to-end exchanges continued at pace. The Leos' centres were taking a real pounding from the Ilkley backs.

Gradually Ilkley began to exert their superiority despite continuing to offend the referee who, on the rare occasion of awarding them a penalty, was ironically cheered by the visiting crowd. After a superb period of play when six and seven phase ball was being recycled in true England style Nick Bell broke inside to beat the Leos defence and touch down. It now looked Ilkley's game with a 25-20 lead.

More power rugby produced a drop goal attempt from MacDonald. It was just wide. Gilbert went off on a weaving run before chipping through only for the ball to be scrambled clear. Just when Ilkley should have settled for territorial advantage and kept the Leos preoccupied with defending they conceded yet another penalty from which the veteran but still deadly Jon Eagle was away and only brought down 15 metres out.

It was now the black and reds who were defending. More penalties gave Leos the chance to run the ball out wide and wingman Griffin burst out of a Gilbert tackle, a rare blemish this, to run in and score in the corner making it 25 all.

Leos now had their teeth bared for the kill. Yet another infringement got them off the hook and play was back on the Ilkley 22. The outcome?

Yes, that horribly predictable penalty. Eddie was cool and stroked the ball over to give his side sweet revenge by the narrowest of margins.

Ilkley are out of the Shield but now must concentrate on Saturday's epic encounter with old rivals Skipton. This is as big a match as you get in League rugby. Ilkley can overhaul Skipton with a repeat of their victory at Sandylands in November and, if Heath lose to promotion hopefuls West Park Bramhope they can be pipped as well.

With the number of relegation places still unknown every league position is vital. A great rugby feast is in store for the final league match of the season. This is one not to be missed. Kick-off is 3 pm.