Northallerton 32

Ilkley 7

A FEW brave Ilkley supporters travelled with hope to watch this mid-table encounter with both sides needing the points.

The pitch was in good condition on a bright sunny day, but a cold gusting wind blowing from end to end made conditions difficult.

Northallerton kicked off with the wind on their backs, Ilkley gathered well but were penalised for not releasing and M Robson kicked the penalty.

The same situation arose from the Ilkley kick off, North were penalised at the ruck, but the kick into the wind failed and North cleared.

It was evident from this moment that the North pack had the upper hand, pushing Ilkley in the tight and were too strong in the mauls which gave them time to run good ball at the Ilkley line.

North were pulled back after a knock on over the line, but soon afterwards No.10 m Robson crossed near the posts and converted, 10 nil after 20 minutes.

Robson added a further penalty to make the score 13-0. Ilkley then had a good spell breaking out of the defence.

Taking play to the North line, they were awarded several penalties, which were tapped and driven, but failed to break the North defence eventually losing the ball in a turn over, North punted and were on the attack once more.

Ilkley lost ruck ball and the North backs ran well to put full back Bulman over and Robson converts, 20 nil.

The referee decided that 5 minutes extra time was required, which allowed No.8 Robinson to run in powerfully from the 22 and gave Robson an easy conversion.

The score at half-time was North 27 and Ilkley 0.

Although this was Northallerton's best selection for over a month, Ilkley's performance was very poor, seemingly forgetting their technique in the basics of the game.

They duly received their coach's wrath at half-time, and came out and played much better rugby.

Ilkley now had the advantage of the conditions and took the game to North, who had difficulty in clearing their line but managed to repel all Ilkley's efforts for all of 30 minutes.

Ilkley then won good line out ball, and drove to the North line, the resultant ruck saw Chris Hemms get the touch down with Richard Hey converting 27-7.

Then Ilkley suffered a blow when their inspirational captain Jimmy Carr suffered a shoulder injury and took no further part, Ian Moffatt moved to scrum half and made good fist of it, doing his best under difficult circumstances.

Ilkley were unfairly penalised by a referee who had completely lost the plot, and then proceeded to gift North a try, with poor tackling with poor tackling and No.15 Bulman crossed wide out, 32-7.

Ilkley to their credit finished the game on top.

Ilkley won the second half which may be clutching at straws, but that's all we've got at times.

Turning round at 27-0 many sides would have capitulated, but to Ilkley's credit they staved off a potential drubbing.

l Saturday's game is at Pocklington in the Yorkshire shield, check before travelling.

Ilkley A.................24

Northallerton.......15

ILKLEY Seconds, looking for further XV league, took to the field in good heart and from the kick off put pressure on visitors Northallerton.

Within ten minutes, Ilkley were ahead, when following an excellent back division move, emergency centre Bernard Bunns hurled himself over in the corner for an exhilarating try.

Ilkley retained the edge and half time arrived with the home side enjoying a comfortable lead.

Following further tries by stand off David Ogilvie, and newcomer winger Chris White scoring his first try for the club, with full back Adrian Cowgill adding a penalty goal.

The visitors then responded with an isolated try.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Ilkley stretch their lead with a further penalty goal from Cowgill, but from then on Ilkley were subject to continuous pressure from Northallerton.

The home-side lead was whittled away with two more tries from the visitors and it was a relief to Ilkley that another penalty goal from Cowgill in the closing minutes made the victory safe.

l Photographer Andy Horner captures the action at the Ilkley A game at Stacks Field on Saturday.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.