Ilkley 17, Dinnington 13: A match of intensity, commitment and passion unfolded at Stacks Field. The pitch had recovered well from last week's quagmire. With a tricky wind blowing across the field the touch finding ability of Anthony Cadman and his opposite number Dean Lax would be vital.

Both fly halves have plied their trade at higher levels of rugby, the telling evidence of the Lax factor on Dinnington this term has been the key to their fine form and lofty position in the league. Cadman has injected a new dimension into Ilkley's play this season.

In the event it was the skills of Cadman that outshone those of Lax. Ilkley's flankers made sure of that. Lax was rarely able to manufacture himself an inch of space, being wrapped up by the rampant Eddie Jones and his back row partner Dave Bussell. Both had outstanding games.

A victory was vital to maintaining Dinnington's promotion challenge. After Ilkley were routed in the first-half at Dinnington in September this was by consensus the best side Ilkley had played in the league for at least three seasons. Ilkley were to turn on a display of controlled rugby played with real passion and pride. This type of display on other days would have put Ilkley well within sight of a table topping position.

The first-half finished with the black and reds 6-3 behind but the low scoring did not reflect the quality and intensity of rugby on display. Dinnington finally took the lead on the stroke of half-time squeezing a kick off the post.

The half had been evenly balanced with both sides showing rucking and handling skills and pressurising through the forwards before attempting to set their back lines moving. Ilkley had cleared their lines under severe pressure three times whilst taking play into Dinnington territory with clever use of the right touchline by Cadman. They had not seriously threatened the try line.

Play had been largely restricted to an intense and powerful midfield battle in which both scrums came under pressure. It is to the credit of young Ben Wade, veteran Andrew Johnson and hooker Stuart Nesbitt that the Ilkley scrum largely held firm throughout despite being up against bigger opponents.

Another veteran, the wily warhorse Christopher Hems was winning back ball that the hard tackling Jones and Bussell had made available in wrapping up Lax. Ilkley's backs had managed a couple of dangerous forays of their own, Sean Gilbert and Ben McDonald had combined well to set up the line for Matt Newberry's take then Jones' charge to win the penalty to level.

If there is a criticism it must surely be the high penalty count against Ilkley. This aspect of their game has cost them dear this season.

The second-half saw Ilkley kicking with wind against and three points adrift. But with the sure knowledge that they had softened their South Yorkshire rivals sufficiently to go all out for the win. Now it was time for Cadman to get his back line moving. Ian Moffat came into the line and set McDonald away. The ball was well set up for Chris Pring to put Cadman into space and his pass to Gilbert cutting inside was spot on. Gilbert in full flight is an awesome sight. He brushed off the Dinnington centre and went in under the posts to make sure of the seven points.

More Ilkley pressure followed with the backs now oozing confidence. McDonald, Andy Hinchliffe and Brendan Kelly were all in action.

Still Ilkley were pinning Dinnington back. Cadman had another drop goal attempt go wide. Kelly took a ball under pressure, made ten metres, beat off one tackler before slipping a great pass inside to Chris Pring. He secured the seven points with a touch down under the posts.

Craig McLoughlin then came on for Allan Moffatt who had made an immense contribution to this game. His strength at the front of the line was a telling factor in securing his side the two scores. Ilkley launched further onslaughts and the rumble was used to great effect with Matt Newberry securing excellent line-out ball. Stuart Nesbitt was a constant threat sniping off the back with his front row colleagues making those valuable metres.

Gilbert and McDonald both went close.Then Ilkley won a throw five metres out. The Ilkley touch judge ruled that Jones' head had crossed the line as he scored. So, so near to capping off a fine display in great fashion.Then, suddenly the nerves seemed to get to Ilkley. As they again pressed the blues back in their 22 Dave Bussell attempted to charge down a clearance kick from replacement Kettleborough and positively flew at him from a distance. He caught him marginally late but foul play is not in Bussell's repertoire. The referee showed red. Off went the distraught flanker to leave his team down to 14 for the last seven minutes. Ilkley momentarily went to pieces conceding penalty after penalty allowing Dinnington to push them right back to their own line. Finally the dam burst, but not without a little help from the man in charge who penalised Hems for a perfectly legal steal and allowed a forward pass on the line to go unnoticed as Dinnington scored to get within four points. The tenacious Ilkley defence, which had been as great a component of the win as their attack, held on to seal a memorable victory

Ilkley second team pulled off a good 24-0 win at Dinnington as a number of players continue to press for first team places.

l Saturday sees Ilkley at Northallerton.