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GALLANT DALESMEN TURN OFF NORTHERN LIGHTS

This was the big one! The highest level encounter ever contested by Ilkley Rugby Club. A winner takes all match to decide who is promoted to North 2.
Coming on the back of two tremendous tussles in previous weeks could the Dalesmen maintain the momentum? Northern had had three cracks at this coming off second best each time. It was uncharted waters for Ilkley.
A big Ilkley supporters contingent had made the journey up the A1 to Gosforth to cheer on the Dalesmen, substantially outnumbering Northern supporters. The weather was set fair with a gusting wind blowing across the pitch giving a slight advantage to Ilkley for the first period. Mercifully the promised rain held off throughout.

There was an air of cautious confidence amongst the travelling support. It was soon to be tested to the full as Northern raced into an early lead courtesy of a stunning try from winger Dave O’Sullivan, converted in style from wide out by full-back Andy Sutherland.
This Northern outfit were clearly one of, if not the best sides the Dalesmen have encountered this long hard season.
7 – 0 down the Dalesmen countered strongly with Anthony Cadman probing Northern defensive lines. Ollie Coughlan tried a kick over the defence. It went dead. The Northern drop out was poor. Reiner Botha and big Jon Hutchinson combined to release the ball to Cadman. A long pass found Liam Frost at blistering pace. Frost’s pass to Terence Sibanda was inch perfect. Sibanda did the rest, outpacing the last line of defence to score in the corner. It was 7 – 5, fifteen minutes gone.
Continuing the brief good spell for the Dalesmen, Cadman kicked a penalty goal from a difficult position to give them a short-lived lead, 8 - 7.
Ilkley again came under pressure and almost conceded again as O’Sullivan was held up on the line. From the 5 metre scrum Ilkley conceded two penalties and lost Botha to a yellow card. From the short penalty Northern finally battered their way over under the posts to bag a converted try from flanker Ian Pearson to regain the lead 14 – 8.
Great Ilkley pressure saw Jack Shaylor, given a “get involved anywhere” role by coach Robin Kay, combine well with Stuart Vincent first on the left then the right to go close twice. A pick and drive from a five metre scrum was turned over. Northern cleared. From the Dalesmens’ lineout the excellent Dan Wright caught. Ilkley drove and released the ball wide where a high tackle produced a penalty goal for Cadman to stroke over. The arrears were down to three points, 11 – 14.
Half time came in what seemed like a flash, such was the intensity and quality of this absorbing tie.
Charlie Cudworth, playing the game of his life, forced Northern to hold on. A penalty goal from in front but 30 metres out was coolly slotted through the uprights by Cadman. The Dalesmen were back on terms, 14 – 14.
Now the Ilkley forwards were just beginning to edge matters over a tiring Northern pack. The front row effort of Hutchinson, John Cooksey and Fred Matthews was massive and an important key to unlocking the deadlock. Dan Wright’s work at the front of the lineouts was crucial and superb. Botha, Stuart Brewer and McKenzie had the better of things on the long throws. The driving off lineouts won was immense and won many vital hard yards.
Northern were penalised for crossing from the kick off. Cadman probed deep to the wing. Ilkley were up quickly, forcing a knock-on. Ilkley’s scrum on the Northern 10 metre line was well won and taken on by Cudworth. Perfect recycled ball allowed Cadman to find Shaylor. The wily winger tricked and dummied his way past two defenders. As he spun out of the third attempt to tackle him he found that man Vincent with a yard or two of space. Vincent only needs a couple of inches of space and he was through to score. The reliable boot of Cadman added the two to make it 21 -14.
Northern replied with a penalty goal from 30 metres to bring it back to 21 -17.
Ilkley responded raising their game to even higher levels. Frost went close twice, once after a great recovery by Sibanda had switched play from left to right. The second Frost foray was stopped with a double hit. He hit both the ground and the man hard. It was a sad sight to see this prodigious talent led off the field and to hospital where a badly fractured shoulder was diagnosed.
An Ilkley lineout was won and driven. A penalty came. Another lineout 2 metres out received the same treatment. The awesome Stuart Brewer claimed the try. The Dalesmen had a 28 – 17 cushion courtesy of another Cadman conversion.
Ilkley were forced on to the back foot, scrambling the ball clear from danger on numerous occasions. The rescue work was done by the forwards who maintained their dominance driving the ball upfield and winning their scrum put-ins. Cadman doing the business with some deft clearance kicks at critical moments.
Ilkley continued to dominate up front but they just couldn’t get back to the Northern line. A Cadman drop goal attempt with the clock approaching 40 minutes was just wide.
Then, just as hearts were beginning to beat a little slower, Ilkley drove another lineout back but knocked on on the Northern 22. Seemingly inevitably, at the scrum, they conceded a penalty and another 10 metres for a second debate on the thorny subject of scrum technique. Northern spun the ball wide and suddenly there was a hole in the Dalesmens’ defence. Clearly O’Sullivan needs no invitation to run through holes and his lines to the try line were superb. Sutherland’s excellent kick reduced arrears to 24 – 28. Ilkley had to stonewall for another 2 minutes of added time before the arms went in the air as Mr Tempest blew for the end of a stunning game of rugby played under the tensest of circumstances. A fantastic victory for a team of which the whole town should be proud.

This was team work at its best. All 19 players who pulled on the Ilkley jersey today can proudly say they were part of Ilkley Rugby Club’s finest hour in league rugby. This was the day the Dalesmen dooned the Toon!

The semi-final of the Yorkshire Shield will be played at Old Brodleians, Hipperholme, Halifax on Sunday 4th May, kick-off at 3.30 p.m.

Match Report taken courtesy of the Ilkley Rugby Club Web Site. Many thanks to author John Hope.

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Posted on 27 Apr 2008 by Steve