Defeat for Ilkley after too many handling errors

West Park Bramhope 47

On a pitch in remarkably good condition considering the rain of recent weeks, Ilkley slumped to their worst defeat of the season and, although it is far too early for real concern, they remain in the relegation danger zone of Yorkshire Division Two.

The most pressing lesson to learn from this result is that indiscipline and futile disagreements with the referee are a sure-fire way to concede points. Twice during this game Ilkley had players sin binned and each time they struggled to hold the opposition with only 14 men on the park.

The opening exchanges gave few clues to the final outcome with Ilkley starting brightly and skipper Anthony Cadman almost opened the scoring after three minutes with a drop goal attempt which drifted wide.

An even better chance came moments later with full- back Nick Bell making the extra man in the line but with winger Dan Nulty on his outside, and seemingly in the clear, Bell chose to cut back inside and was penalised for not releasing the ball after the tackle.

This was to be one of the few occasions when Ilkley really threatened to break the visitors' defence.

Even so all the play was in the West Park half until Ilkley were caught off-side and had to defend grimly.

Fortunately the Ilkley tight play more than matched their opponents and hooker Nesbitt took the first of three strikes against the head to allow Cadman to clear his lines.

There was little fluid play during these opening 15 minutes with both sides struggling to retain the ball.

Predictably it was a mistake that broke the stalemate, the ball running loose in the Ilkley half, allowing the visitors' centre, Matt Stevens to run in under the posts.

Full-back Monkhouse added the extra points with an easy conversion.

Ilkey were still competing well, but on several occasions the ball carrier became isolated and the turnover all too easy.

After a crushing tackle by Ilkley wing forward, Craig MacLoughlin, Ilkey were awarded a penalty but Cad-man's attempt from 35 metres drifted just wide of the left hand upright. The Ilkley skipper's misery was com-pounded only a couple of minutes later when his attempted chip through hit the onrushing West Park backs and bounced behind the Ilkley defence leaving Corrigan to run in unopposed.

Despite being 12 points down, Ilkley continued to press and were rewarded when Cadman struck the ball sweetly to land a penalty after35 minutes of play.

West Park responded immediately and it took a brave try stopping tackle by Bell to stop them adding to their lead.

It was at this stage the wheels came off the Ilkley wagon - just as the referee blew for half-time a punch up started in the middle of the field and it was Ilkley's MacLoughlin who was the unlucky one to be spotted for throwing a wild one and sent to the sin bin for the first ten minutes of the second-half.

West Park took immediate advantage of their superior numbers, scrum half Kilvington spotting the gap left by the rueful MacLoughlin and scampering in for an opportunist try.

Although Ilkley were getting their fair share of possession the backs lacked any penetration and struggled to cross the gain line.

This has been a problem all season and constantly puts the pressure on to the forwards to secure the ball yet again.

In the end tired legs take their toll and this match was to prove no different.

Full-back Monkhouse punished Ilkley once more with two well struck penalties and with MacLoughlin just having returned to the fray the Ilkey No8 Alan Moffat decided to discuss with the referee the penalty he had just conceded.

The inevitable result was a ten minute sin binning and the home team down to 14 men once again.

This was the start of a period of total dominance by West Park - they ran in two more tries to lead by 35-3 before Ikley replied with a try by Andy Pell who was able to stroll over the line following a bull dozing run from Moffat who had returned after serving his ten minute banishment.

Cadman added the extra points with a beautifully struck conversion from wide out.

Ilkley's joy was short lived, however, with the visitors stepping on the gas and finishing off the dispirited boys from Stacks Field with two more tries, the first by centre Whitehead and finally by back row Mimms.

What comfort could Ilkley draw from this match?

Well, the forwards won all their own ball both in the tight and in the lines-out and troubled the West Park pack by claiming three strikes on the opposition put in.

They were however guilty of too many handling errors and will surely learn that there is absolutely nothing to gain and much to lose from indiscipline.

l On Saturday Ilkley travel to Skipton for another league game. There is a lot of work to be done on the training field if they are to return with the spoils.