Barley's pearl is not enough as Ilkley lose at Malton

Ilkley 10

In incessant driving rain and playing throughout the match under floodlights Ilkley were unlucky not to return to West Yorkshire without two points. At kick-off had floodlights not been available it would have barely been light enough to play, by half-time it was positively dark away from the pitch. This was, in fact the first league match Ilkley have played under lights.

Anthony Cadman made a welcome return at fly-half, Phil Merkin to centre and Andy Pell to lock. After their idle weekend Ilkley were raring to go and fired up by their victory over West Leeds.

Malton and Norton, in their change strip of red and white quarters, were among the leading pack at the top of league two. Their young side has been put together over recent years and is a testimony to a vibrant junior and colts section.

That the game turned out to be a hard fought, exciting and, at times, classy game of rugby was a miracle in itself.

Ball handling was always going to be difficult but both sides demonstrated the fine art of catching and passing with remarkably few mistakes in this department. Both sides played the line-out well, although Ilkley were too rarely in a position to deploy their rumble to good effect.

Both sides tackled fiercely giving their opposition few clear chances. Kicking out of hand was good. The scrummaging was hard fought though Ilkley took the honours in the tight. It was even-steven in the backs, though neither Andy Hinchliffe nor Merkin could find any space to punch holes in the Malton defences.

Ilkley started the game soaking up early pressure before turning the tables and putting Malton under pressure with Dan Nulty showing some early glimpses of speed and the eye for a chase of the ball down the wing.

It was the home side that engineered the first score, sucking the Ilkley defence out of position on the right, and then moving the ball out left. Prop Rushworth found himself with an open space and the line beckoning ten metres away. He made the line just before the Ilkley defenders could re-group. The conversion was wide but Malton had a precious five point lead.

Allan Moffatt and Gus Rogers were driving Ilkley relentlessly forward and more and more into the game. Malton replied with kicks into the Ilkley 22 but Cadman and Sean Gilbert dealt effectively with those.

Ilkley worked the ball up midfield forcing mistakes by the Malton defenders. Malton's scrum came under increasing pressure giving Tim Barley and Rogers the chance to disrupt the Malton ball supply. It is a shame the Ilkley pack could not have maintained and built on this advantage as the game progressed, showing their superiority only spasmodically.

Ilkley successfully wheeled a Malton scrum well inside the home team's half. From the Ilkley put in Moffatt picked up and fed Barley who bulldozed through to score on the right. Cadman's kick was spot on to put his side two points up at 5-7.

With ten minutes before half-time both sides had chances. Nulty made a couple of jinking runs, one right across the field, first behind his line, then up the left wing. Merkin made a classic tackle on his opposite number stopping him his tracks. Inevitably the ball slipped loose in the worsening conditions and despite looking good for another score Ilkley's attacking sorties were frustrated.

On the stroke of half-time Malton got their attack moving again and Ilkley's gritty defence had to throw everything at them. In doing so Allan Moffatt twisted his ankle and, at the same time, unfortunately surrendered a penalty which full-back Barber despatched for three points, sending Malton in at the interval 8-7 up. Moffatt was replaced by BJ Fowler.

From the re-start Ilkley were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. Cadman coolly stroked it over to regain the advantage for his side at 10-8.

Again Ilkley looked the stronger side with the plucky Rogers making more and more trouble for Malton. Gilbert, Brendan Kelley and Nulty all had good runs held up.

Then it was Barber's turn to have a long-range pot at a penalty. His attempt was well short falling to Fowler to field it well. Fowler's clearance kick was well fielded and returned to the Ilkley 22.

The ball was cleared again only to be returned again, this time down the left wing where Kelley was forced into touch.

The Malton throw was well secured and worked out to flanker Webster. He was given a yard too much room and he rammed his way over for the East Yorkshiremen's second try and a 13-10 lead.

The referee who had a superb game controlling affairs admirably had one small controversial part to play. The game could have gone either way and both sides could have scored again. Neither side did, and Malton hung on under tremendous pressure to record their sixth win of the season.

Ilkley now languish third from bottom with three wins and six points.They can be disappointed not to have come away with a win.

l With Saturday's opponents West Park Bramhope at Stacks Field leading the table the derby will surely be another closely fought affair. Ilkley are well capable of winning this one.