Ilkley 24

Bridlington 20

If the final score had been reversed no-one in the crowd would have felt hard done by. This was a cracking match played in difficult conditions on a Stacks Field sodden by the recent heavy rains.

To their credit both sides tried to play open rugby and, when it all strung together, gave the crowd some excellent entertainment. Inevitably mistakes with a slippy ball and cloying ground would dictate the outcome of the match.

Ilkley made fewer mistakes and held on to their passes marginally better than Brid. In fact, with the scores at Ilkley 17, Bridlington 15, a knock on in the centre with the Ilkley try line beckoning probably cost Brid the game.

Ilkley came away from that to put flyer Dan Nulty in for his second try and a 24-15 scoreline. That proved just enough despite a late try from replacement Thirion to give Brid two minutes to secure the victory. The relief when Steven Lee, a very competent, up and coming young referee, blew for time was tangible.

Coach Richard Midgely had the week to pick his men up from the floor following their drubbing at Beverley and, for sure, they came out with belief and determination. A missed penalty shot from Simon Smith after five minutes was about all there was to threaten a score in the first quarter.

It was case of slugging it out to try and find weaknesses by both sides. Not many weaknesses were apparent as heavy tackles and fiercely contested scrums and lineouts kept the game very much in midfield.

The Dalesmen's tight five were solid with Alex Mason having a sound home debut. Big John Hutchinson largely got his line-out work right, with Nick Brook, now recovered from his mind numbing knock, getting the calls working. Fred Matthews held his corner well and Allen Asamoa put a big game together in the absence of Ed Whiteley. It was just about all square in the engine room.

A little glimpse of Nulty pace was hauled back as his foot just found the white lines. Ilkley were penalised for a line-out offence. The kick took Brid back to half way but a mistake was pounced on by Ian Mackenzie. A drive to Brid's 22 was pulled down and Smith had another chance for a goal. He took it well and at last the deadlock was broken.

The euphoria lasted a full two minutes. The kick-off was ignored by the Ilkley pack - did they think it hadn't gone ten metres?

This time the Seasiders pounced and were stopped illegally. A touch kick into the corner set up four huge drives at the Ilkley line and, ultimately, prop Warner went over to score.

Still both sides were attempting to run the ball but few try threatening opportunities materialised. On the stroke of half- time Ilkley conceded a penalty for a lineout offence which scrum-half Thomas converted from almost half way. That put the Seasiders 8-3 in front at half-time.

Coach Midgely fired his men up well. The back row of MacKenzie, the indomitable warhorse Charlie Cudworth and BJ Fowler positively flew at the Brid defence unsettling them early on.

They forced a knock on. From the scrum Smith and MacKenzie combined well to be just held up short. Ilkley had the five metre scrum.

Tim Barley, a symbol of grit and determination all afternoon, fed Jim McBirnie who glided through to score under the posts. Did Ilkley's new extra wide post protectors pay for themselves with the ball adjudged touched down against them?

Smith converted to put the Dalesmen in front 10-8. A further spell of uncompromising rugby produced excitement but no score.

Then imperceptibly Brid started to get the upper hand. After a period of sustained pressure they forced Ilkley back into their 22 then, unusually, lost a lineout to enable Barley to clear.

It looked as though the Dalesmen had weathered the storm but Brid won the next line-out and got the ball smartly down their back line to Troy Hall who outstripped the Ilkley defence to score. Thomas converted to give his side the lead 15-10.

Now it was the Dalesmen who had to turn on the gas. They had a scrum on half way. Mr Lee blew against Brid.

A penalty took play to the Brid 22. BJ Fowler was taken out in the line. A penalty had them five metres out. A multi phase charge at the line was probably the highlight of the day.

The ball finally came back through McBirnie, Hinchliffe and Vincent before that man Nulty winged over for a great try. Smith made a difficult kick look easy to put his side back in the lead 17- 15 with ten minutes to go. Could they hang on?

They had to defend like tigers. One stop and turnover on the 22 by Cudworth was truly sensational. From the turnover Smith drove away.

But back came the Seasiders only to make that fateful knock on with the Ilkley line beckoning and undefended.

Now it was Nulty's turn to get back in the action. His second try followed that fateful Brid knock on. Smith improved that to give Ilkley a nine point cushion.

Seemingly inevitably, they sat back a little. Agonisingly for the Ilkley faithful, a little was enough to allow Thirion to bag a try through the centre to give the crowd their customary last couple of minutes with their hearts in their mouths.

Thirion broke through again, but this time Nulty lined him up well to force him with a good tackle into touch.

The whistle came not a moment too early. Final score 24-20 and two precious league points in the bag.

This week Ilkley travel up to Ainley Top to take on Huddersfield YMCA who are yet to win a match in this tough Yorkshire league one. Kick-off is 2.15 pm.

Ilkley's second and third teams had good wins against Old Brodleians.