Malton and Norton 0 Ilkley Seconds 3

ILKLEY looked to continue their run of wins against a Malton and Norton side seeking to gain revenge for the heavy defeat they experienced at Stacks Field earlier in the season.

Ilkley have only lost one game this season which is an enviable record by any standards.

So the afternoon was set for a decisive encounter and the spectators were not going to be disappointed. The home side started well and immediately took the game to Ilkley. But you need to be a good side to break Ilkley's defence.

A bit of frustration set in and Ilkley were awarded a kickable penalty which skipper Dave Duxbury just missed.

For a long period the game was then played between the 22s. The packs showed a lot of determination and commitment. Ilkley's back line held and Ben Rowlands, in particular, put in some crunching tackles.

At times it seemed that both defences had been breached only for the final ball to be either knocked-on or lost. The one time that Malton did break through for what they thought was a good try, the referee deemed that the final pass had been forward.

Eventually, after 30 minutes play, Ilkley finally got some points on the board. A Malton infringement in range allowed Duxbury to put the away side three points ahead.

The game then followed a similar pattern to half-time with both sides desperately trying to make that all-important breakthrough.

Ilkley started well in the second-half and it took the home side 30 minutes to get out of their own half. What was pleasing to see was full-back Ian Moffat's return to form.

He made a number of penetrating breaks and linked up very well with the forwards. No 8 BJ Fowler also seemed back to his old self and as the game progressed was more and more influential. Special mention also for the young prop Fred Mathews. He is turning into a very useful prospect and needs nurturing for the future.

Eventually, almost half-way through the second half, Ilkley thought they had scored. Following a penalty ten metres out they forced their way to the line with the ball grounded against the post. Unfortunately the referee did not see it.

With ten minutes to go Malton started to claw their way back into the game and one or two flutters went through the Ilkley players. Was all their effort going to be lost in the last few minutes?

No. They held their line to record another win. Encounters cannot get much closer than this but on the day they were marginally the better side.

The game was well refereed with a touch of humour even though some of the decisions seemed bizarre. This was an excellent advert for good, honest amateur rugby.

Ilkley earned their slow trip home, enjoying a number of hostelries between Malton and Ilkley, and now look forward to the game on the Saturday away to an Otley XV.