Ilkley..................8

Hemsworth........0

A surprisingly good sized crowd gathered to see whether Ilkley could return to winning ways following narrow defeats at the hands of the two top clubs in the table.

That the game was able to take place at all is a testimony to the work of the ground staff. Nonetheless, the pitch was as heavy as the Aintree racecourse and no place for the feint-hearted.

The winners of this clash would be the team who could adapt to the going and the going was as tough as it gets. Hemsworth were lying in fourth place in the table and having one of their strongest seasons for years. Once again Ilkley desperately needed the maximum two points to continue their fight against relegation. They could afford to give no quarter.

Ilkley were without captain Ben MacDonald and ever-present scrum-half Chris Pring, both on holiday, pre-planned not to interfere with league match selection. Chris Cooper deputised at scrum-half and Adam Lewis on the wing. Player-of-the-Year Charlie Cudworth was captain for the day.

Ilkley began strongly forcing Hemsworth to defend some well-worked second and third phase ball. The result of this early pressure was one which was to typify the afternoon. Hemsworth were caught first off-side and then going over the ball in the ruck. Hewitt found the middle of the posts and a 3-0 lead was to prove a narrow, nail-biting but important lead.

From the re-start Hemsworth won successive penalties and they were able to drive Ilkley back. Some fierce play resulted in Joe Widdup requiring treatment for a cut to the head.

Hewitt was applying his talented big boot with variety to try and open up the gritty Hemsworth defences, but these incursions were repelled, often with interest. Ian Moffatt made a great break and he again featured taking a short throw to himself and cleverly evading the Hemsworth tacklers to set the ball up for Widdup. Both efforts were frustrated by penalty offences.

Kelly then got in on the act only to felled by a high tackle, the touch kick putting Ilkley back on the attack. However, every time the black and reds threatened, Hemsworth were able to save the day and frequently turned defence into attack.

Moffatt kicked through to win Ilkley a scrum in an attacking position down the clubhouse side. Cudworth was held five yards out and set the ball up for Cooper to attack the blind side. A further ruck set up a scoring opportunity for lock Matt Newberry who was stopped just short. The seemingly inevitable penalty frustrated yet another good chance.

Moffatt hacked through but in charging down the return received a nasty knock and had to retire for the five minutes up to half-time.

Dave Duxbury, deputising for another absentee, coach John Atkinson, gave a stern half-time warning that the game had to be tightened up and more protection given to the gallant Cooper. Widdup's head wound finally forced him to leave the field for the experienced Alan Moffatt. Ilkley's play became frenetic and might well have allowed their opponents to grab the initiative. Mike Noble then came on to relieve the tiring Michael Leeson, who by this time had worn his prop to the ground - a job well done.

A punch was thrown and full-back Key, whose game had inspired Hemsworth, was dismissed. Lewis took retaliatory action against more Hemsworth provocation and got an early bath.

Hems picked up off the back and forced his way over for the only try of the game.