Ilkley 9

Huddersfield YMCA 25

ILKLEY put up a resolute performance in this Yorkshire Shield semi-final clash but were always chasing the game.

The home side started well and put their visitors on the back foot. Huddersfield's approach to stopping this was to give away penalty after penalty. Ilkley's reward was a 3-0 lead, courtesy of skipper Justin Hewitt.

Huddersfield were quick to respond. From a ruck just inside the Ilkley 22 quick ball to their backs saw them open their account with a try. This was converted to make the score 7-3.

A second Ilkley penalty narrowed the score to 7-6 but this was quickly followed by an unconverted Huddersfield try to make it 12-6.

Ilkley fought back once again with another penalty to make it 12-9.

Huddersfield always looked dangerous with the ball in hand but Ilkley defended well.

Pressure on Ilkley's scrums was also starting to take effect although the home side enjoyed the better of the line-outs.

However, Ilkley's line was breached twice more before half-time, both unconverted, to leave Ilkley trailing by 20-9.

The second-half ebbed and flowed with each side enjoying good spells. Ilkley defended well and didn't allow Huddersfield space.

On three occasions they went close to scoring.

Huddersfield found former Yorkshire centre Sean Atkinson a handful but prevented any further Ilkley scoring.

The visitors finally opened their second-half account with an unconverted try following a rolling maul near the Ilkley line.This was a creditable performance by Ilkley.

Trailing 20-9 at the interval the game could have run away from them but they showed a lot of character in the second-half and were unlucky not to score.

l It is back to league action on Saturday with a trip to Northallerton (kick off 2.15pm).

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