Ilkley 38, West Leeds 5

Andy Hinchliffe, called up to first team duty to deputise for captain Nick Bell, grabbed five tries in Ilkley's win over struggling West Leeds at Stacks Field.

The Ilkley rugby history books will probably have to be re-written. According to gateman and ex-Ilkley legend Chris Hume the last individual five try feat may have been by Harry Melville at Catterick Garrison in the early fifties, though there do not appear to be any official records to verify it. Certainly it is a first in the era of league rugby at Ilkley.

Hinchliffe is Ilkley's second fifteen captain and has lead his men in an unbeaten season thus far. Today he was more than equal to first team duties putting on his virtuoso display in front of a packed grandstand with the club's generous sponsors in attendance.

For 50 minutes this was a drab affair matched by the weather which, mercifully at least, stopped raining in time for kick-off. A lazy north westerly blew across the ground making goal kicking difficult.

The first-half had little quality rugby and after twenty minutes it was very much stalemate. However, and notably, the Ilkley front row were completely dominating the scrums pushing the Leeds outfit off the ball with impunity.

It took a scrum against the head to set up Hinchliffe's first. From the scrum the ball was scrambled clear but Nicky Howe, at stand-off today, cleared to half way. Dan Nulty got his first touch and good ball was made available in midfield. Ilkley again looked to get Nulty going but Hinchliffe was there to take a super pass from Howe.

He cut inside and battered his through at least six despairing West Leeds tacklers to barge over under the posts. Simon Smith made the conversion and the Ilkley supporters now thought that the visitors would crack.

Far from it. They finished the half strongly and could have scored twice but for solid Ilkley defence.

The Ilkley defence, both back row and backs was excellent all afternoon.

The one weakness, which no doubt coach Richard Midgeley will be working on this week, is stopping the rumble.

However 7-0 it was at half-time but Ilkley knew they had to up the momentum in the second period. It took ten minutes for them to get into top gear, and not before West Leeds had clawed one try back as they started the second half as they had finished the first.

Andy Pell had taken a nasty knock and Matt Newberry came on.

Ilkley were caught off-side at a scrum deep in their own half. Sensing the soft underbelly, the blue and golds chose the line option and from fifteen metres out they launched a rumble. The ball was well set for flanker Wilson to force his way over.

The conversion was blown off course and the Dalesmen clung onto a two-point lead.

Still West Leeds came forward. A knock-on in Ilkley's 22 gave them another chance but the referee adjudged crossing and that was effectively the last time Ilkley's line was seriously threatened.

Ben Wade came on for Mike Noble but the front row remained dominant and solid. Veteran David Breakwell, a torturer of Ilkley in the past, came on for the visitors.

At last Nulty got away and was tackled into touch 15 metres out.

The line was stolen and the ball well re-cycled by the Ilkley pack. On fourth phase they again found Hinchcliffe who went through around the referee and under the posts.

Much to the chagrin of the Leeds supporters, referee Mr Rhodes looked round and found he had not caused any obstruction to a defender and awarded the try.

Now it was all Ilkley. After being penalised for crossing as another score was coming, they stole yet another line-out from the clearance.

The ball was well set up for Tim Barley to again find Hinchliffe who went over for his hat-trick and 19 -5.

Despite those niggling mistakes which had dogged the game from the start, Ilkley were now unstoppable. Howe broke free and was hauled down on the 22. He popped up a delightful little pass to that man Hinchliffe who charged over for another try. Smith improved to make it 26-5.

Nulty interrupted Hinchliffe's try-fest with a typical Nulty effort. Howe fed him the ball on the half way. Nulty engaged top gear and romped around two defenders as if they weren't there for his first of the day. Smith improved that to make it 33-5.

West Leeds got themselves in a rare position to attack the Dalesmen's lines but the belief had gone and they fluffed it. Hinchliffe and Howe hacked on the loose ball and Hinchliffe, belying those years, gave chase hacking on again on the 22 before gratefully falling on the ball to bag his fifth try.

That was the scoring finished and Ilkley were well deserved winners at 38-5 but not before West Leeds had pounced onto a pass from Nick Brook to Barley and go very close with the interception.

Man-of-the-Match Hinchliffe took the accolades but he will be quick to praise the efforts of Dermott Foley and Matt Newberry in the line-out for laying on the two steal balls and, once again, that mighty Ilkley front row.

Ilkley remain fourth in the table with all the leading contenders having won on Saturday.

This week sees the Dalesmen travel to the East Coast to tabletoppers and unbeaten Beverley who just managed to win by one point at lowly Ripon.

It just goes to show the quality of sides from top to bottom of this fiercely competitive league. A performance from the Dalesmen like the final 20 minutes of Saturday's match will surely give them more than a good chance to bring home two vital league points.

Ilkley's second XV, even without their inspirational captain, registered yet another big win by 50 points at West Leeds.

Sadly the third XV was again let down at the last minute, this time by West Leeds. Surely something must be done to stop teams arranging fixtures and back wording at the eleventh hour