Ilkley 16 Leodensians 32

The setting was right. The atmosphere was right. The big crowd was eager to see Ilkley build on their spirited win at Skipton the previous week.

Ilkley were unchanged other than at scrum-half. Tim Barley was ski-ing so young Ollie Coughlan deputised.

Having beaten the North Leeds outfit twice last season and with only two points between the teams in the league, Ilkley started favourites to win this tough league encounter.

Things, however, got off to the worst of starts. Ilkley were a try down after two minutes. The Leos back row sweeping through a hapless Ilkley defence to score close in through number eight Dewey. The Rock of Gibraltar for Leos, Dan Eddie, stroked the conversion home before most of the invited guests had time to don their mufflers and overcoats. It soon got worse. Phil Merkin was dispossessed attempting a break out of his own 22. The ball was whipped out to the wing for Holmes to barge over for try number two. 12-0 and Ilkley's cause looked shattered.

The Dalesmen, to their credit, did not falter in their resolve and fought back, winning two penalties and scoring a now typical Stuart Nesbit try from a rumble on the right to claw their way back to 11-12.

Then a lapse of concentration allowed the blue and gold of Leos back within sight of the Ilkley line. A penalty was conceded which Eddie despatched to stretch the lead to 11-15.

Leos added two more tries before half- time. A missed tackle out wide allowed prop Connell to pick up on the 22 and his pack charged in to drive him over.

Then a poor pass from the Ilkley back row just when they were building up a head of steam allowed Leos to regain possession. The ball was sent out wide to wingman Ogilvie who kicked over the Ilkley defensive lines. He showed a real turn of speed to race in after his own kick to score. The steady Eddie again improved to give his side a 29-11 half-time lead.

The second half saw better things from Ilkley but only one score materialised from a lot of hard work and effort.

That from flyer Nulty who was put clear to narrow the margin to 13 points. The only other score of the half was a well-taken drop goal from the ever ready Eddie who took advantage of a poor attempt to break out of defence and add three points to the Leos tally.

Ilkley had, what looked like a perfectly good try disallowed after Leos full back Freer knocked on in his in goal area for Ilkley to get the touchdown. For some reason a scrum five was awarded.

That the Dalesmen lost by 32-16 was entirely down to the early lapses of concentration. It is a long way back from being two tries down after five minutes.

However they cannot be faulted for effort. In fact they looked the better side for long periods of the game. The forwards dominated both scrum and lineouts. Leos scrum was pushed back a number of times. The front row is performing well and young Fred Matthews, a second half substitute for Ben Wade looks a bright prospect up front.

Nick Brook, making a welcome return to the side, replaced the workhorse Andy Pell at half time. Brook will bolster the pack and give coach Atkinson a few more options.

The Ilkley pack could have forced their way over three or four times but the final pass eluded them or the ball was cruelly ripped away from their grasp at the last.

Many spectators observed that the referee failed to spot illegal Leos play close in. The real difficulty seems to be in punching holes in the opposition first line of defence. Andy Hinchliffe saw enough of the ball but never got much beyond the gain line.

However, the ball was re-cycled well and both Nulty and Kelley had strong runs stopped at the last. Nulty could have had at least a couple more tries if he had had the confidence to step inside the defender. Instead he ended up bundled into touch close in on three occasions.

Ollie Coughlan had a sound game finding space round the flanks to make good ground. He was unlucky to be injured after an hour. Anthony Cadman took scrum half duties, Nick Bell went to stand off and Ben MacDonald came in to full-back.

Ilkley's up and down season continues. They are capable of beating any of the sides in this strong league a well taken but the belief seems to desert them just when it matters.

This game was no exception to that. The scoreline tells its own story. Ilkley came off second best; however, given a bit of luck they could have snatched it.

l Saturday sees a short trip up to Bramhope for what should be a big test of Ilkley's mettle when they take on West Park, who along with Keighley are the current league pacesetters.

The second fifteen continued their winning ways with a good victory at Leos.