Sunday 27th April 2008
Ilkley 29, Ripon 5
Ilkley U16s rounded off their successful season with a convincing victory in their first ever game against Ripon. Ilkley came out fast and could have scored 3 tries in the first ten minutes. Led by captain James Frost the pack dominated the early contact and great breaks by Alex Lithgow, Rob Cranley and Matt Meyer kept Ripon penned in. The pressure finally told and on 10 minutes Ben Fletcher weaved his way through for the opening try in the far right hand corner. Charlie Hopkinson produced a great conversion from the far touchline to give Ilkley a 7-0 lead. For the next 24 minutes it was all Ilkely with Will Griffiths, Martyn Hyde and Sam Thorton squeezing the opposition in the rucks and mauls and making life difficult for Ripon who couldn’t get out of their own half. Chris Dickinson put in some trademark crunching tackles to snuff out any Ripon back moves out wide. A number of chances went begging and as the clock ticked down for half time Ripon produced a try out of the blue to knock Ilkley back. A couple of missed tackles, some forward pressure and the Ripon number 8 piled over to bring the score back to 7-5. At half time coach Ray Dennis gave inspired instructions to get the ball out wide where the backs were looking dangerous at every opportunity. Scrum half Charlie Hopkinson and fly half Ben Lambert played some delightful kicks and interchanges which produced a fluency to the Ilkley play that they have produced in short phases all season. Six minutes into the second half Ilkely produce d delightful try, Ryan Keane catching and running the ball from full back released Alex Ickringhill on the right wing in front of the stand. He made 50 yards before being tackled. He popped a pass to Ben Fletcher who was then caught but flicked it inside to Ryan Keane who had maintained his run and was able to break through the final tackle and score to the right of the posts. Five minutes later an equally fluent move combined the entire team – the forward rumbled the ball up the right wing where Ollie Dennis set up a ruck – the ball then went across the entire back line to the far left hand side where Will Smith took the ball at pace and smashed two Ripon defenders to drive over for his first ever try for the club. At 17-5 a number of substitutions were made. James Colclough brought a new injection of pace to the back row and once again the forward and backs combined superbly to bring the ball right and then left allowing Ben Fletcher to score his second try of the game on 58 minutes. In the closing stages Luke Whalley came on as fly half and on 66 minutes worked a dummy move to allow Charlie Hopkinson to dive over for the 5th try of the game. Ben Huggon playing his final game for the team was given the honour of taking the conversion which he popped over with no problem to leave the score at 29-5. Ripon played the game in a very sporting manner and never gave in which was a credit to their club and spectators. After the game the U16s had a quick end of season get together where the coaches named their player of the season James Frost for his overall attitude, work rate, technique and attendance. Chalrie Hopkinson ended up as top points scored for the team with 37 points in 15 games. Alex Ickringhill was top try scorer with 6 tries in 13 games.
Sunday 16th March 2008
Ilkley 10, Yarnbury 15
After a 63-7 drubbing last season away from home Ilkley entertained Yarnbury and demonstrated the massive improvement in the team in just over a season with a heart breaking defeat off the final play of the game. Missing 7 regulars the omen’s looked ominous, and with Yarnbury scoring after 2 minutes it felt like déjà vu. However extra training sessions in recent weeks have begun to resurrect a season broken up by repeated cancellations and Ilkley dug back in to level the score on 10 minutes. A series of driving mauls created the opportunity for James Colclough to drive over and level the score at 5-5. A poor re-start allowed Yarnbury turnover and on 12 minutes – despite Ilkley appeals for a knock- on, the ref awarded Yarnbury a touch down to the left hand side of the corner flag. From then on Ilkley began to dominate the game. The outstanding James Frost and Will Griffiths were everywhere, recycling the ball and allowing the increasingly impressive Ilklely backs to move through the gears. Some fine kicking from Ben Lambert and Ben Huggon gave Ilkley great field positions. With John Pickersgill and Matt Meyer creating problems for Yarnbury in the line out, and Ollie Dennis beginning to exert some influence at number 8, Ilkley were able to maintain pressure – something that forwards coaches have been working on in recent weeks. When Yarnbury did get clean ball some big hits by Rob Cranley and Chris Dickinson knocked Yarnbury back who by now realized that the Ilkley lads were not going to wilt.
Unlike previous games Ilkley came out the stronger team in the second half. Sam Thornton- on at prop- provided some new legs and strength and it was from Thornton’s drive, that on 62 minutes allowed Martin ‘The Hof’ Hyde to pick from a ruck and dive over for his 1st try for the U16’s. Ilkley now had their tails up. Ben Fletcher made a barnstoring run from his own 22 to beat half the Yarnbury team. With only the full back to beat he was past the full back who managed to grab his shirt and off-balance him. Alex Ickringhill at wing had his 4 and 5th surging runs of the day but on each occasion couldn’t break the final tackle and the chances went begging. Ryan Keane then picked up of a wild Yarnbury kick and was almost through, but was brought before he could offload. Yarnbury started to come back into it and had a number of chip and charges into the Ilkely 22 but great defending from the full Ilkley team kept Yarnbury at bay. In the 4th minute of injury time A misplaced 22 kick out allowed Yarnbury to kick to the corner which was run out by Ilkely. From the line out Yarnbury secured possession and drove over the Ilkley line to touch down. After the failed conversion the ref blew and Ilkley sank to their knees. Despite the result the performance provided further evidence that Ilkley are now a team that no team can underestimate. Well played to a sporting Yarnbury team - a highly ranked county team – which reminded the Ilkley lads of how well they played and are playing. Man of the match James Frost
Sunday 9th March 2008
Wetherby U16s 19, Ilkley U16s 5
A depleted Ilkely U16s playing only their 4th game in four months turned in a creditable and spirited performance against a well drilled and very sporting Wetherby. Travelling with only 15 fit players Ilkely started brightly and for the first 10 minutes took the game into the Wetherby 22. A penalty on 11 minutes by Ben Lambert hit the post creating confusion in the Wetherby ranks which Ben Huggon almost capitalised on. Ollie Dennis and Matt Meyer made storming runs into the Wetherby forwards creating an opportunity for a try but a difficult pass was dropped by Ben Lambert as the try line beckoned. On 18 minutes Ilkley got their reward when further forward pressure by Rob Cranley and James Frost led to a ruck on the Wetherby 5 meter line. New recruit Llewellyn Thomas at scrum half span the ball out wide to Charlie Hopkinson who went through a gap to then put Alex Ickringhill in for the opening try. From here Wetherby upped their game and after 24 minutes they made their first foray into the Ilkley 22. A missed tackle in midfield and some poor covering allowed Wetherby to move across the back line from which they scored an unconverted try. The game then ebbed and flowed with Luke Walley from the U15s making a great break on the wing only to be tackled a few meters short of his first try for the team. So to half time with Ilkley ahead on territory and possession but level on points. The second half began much as the first. Ilkley had plenty of possession with Alex Lithgow, James Colclough and Will Griffiths making good breaks. As the half wore on however some tiredness crept in and the big Wetherby pack began to drive and ruck more aggressively and forced a number of turnovers and disruption to the Ilkley momentum. Ilkley though has a number of situations that would have turned the game. Alex Ickringhill had a barnstorming run but turned infield to be tackled by the full back when he could have made the corner. James Colclough was called incorrectly for a knock on which came off a Wetherby player as he burst through and then Ryan Keane coming into the line was judged to have made a forward pass when he put Will Smith in for a certain try. On such decisions matches can and do turn and this was no exception. On 57 minutes Wetherby had driven Ilkely back into their 22 and from the blind side ripped out and were allowed to run unopposed to score under the posts which was converted to make it 12-5. Ilkley came back again and had more chances to bring the scores level but couldn’t find the final pass to break the Wetherby line. In the last minute Ryan Keane was a finger tip from making a last gasp midfield interception which would have left him with a full pitch run as the Wetherby full back came into the line. Out of position and with numbers outside Wetherby worked it to the wing where they instead scored which they converted. So in the end the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story and there was no doubt that the Ilkley 15 had made Wetherby work hard for their win.
WHAT A SUPERB EFFORT!!!!!!
After counting up 3 times (as I didn’t quite believe it the first two times) I am pleased to let you know that the lads collected a fantastic £633.50 today in only 4 hours.
A huge thank you to Ryan Keane, James Colclough, Rob Cranley, Alex Lithgow, Alex Ickringill, Paddy Burns, Ben Huggon, Charlie Hopkinson, Martin Hyde and Ollie Dennis who took the time out of their weekend to do the packing and to James, Ryan & Alex L who did two shifts and only needed feeding once. All the lads were a credit to the club and to themselves. In fact I think some of them made such a good impression on the staff that they may have got themselves jobs in the new Ilkley M&S when it opens.
Also a big thank you to the parents who helped support the lads during the day.
I will be writing to M&S to thank them for giving us the opportunity to raise the money
PS There was a bit of friendly rivalry going on as to who could get the most in their buckets - the bucket with the most money in it belonged to James & Ollie closely followed (with only £2 less) by Alex L & Alex I
Sunday 6th January 2008
Ilkley U16s 19 Barnsley U16s 12
Ilkley U16s faced Barnsley in a re-arranged Yorkshire Plate Quarter Final and despite some late scares ran out deserved winners to book a semi final place for early March. Having not had a competitive game since the end of November Ilkely were understandably rusty and some tentative play in the opening quarter allowed a big Barnsley side to get on the front foot. A Barnsley ruck on the Ilkley 22 looked innocent enough but some poor communication left a huge blind side opening which the Barnsley flanker accepted and ran in unopposed for the opening unconverted try. Ilkley slowly got into their game plan and some better tactical kicking from Charlie Hopkinson at fly half and driving rucks and mauls meant the rest of the half was player in the Barnsley 22. With Sam Thornton having to go off injured Alex Lithgow and John Pickersgill in the second row stepped up and were both instrumental in driving Ilkley forward. Ollie Dennis, Tom Crane and James Colclough were each agonisingly held up. From the last of these the ball was spun wide from the 5 meter scrum to allow Ryan Keane on 26 minutes to go over under the posts which was converted by Ben Lambert. Sporadic wide breaks or kicks from Barnsley were nullified by disciplined positional play by Chris Dickinson and Alex Ickringhill on the wings allowing Ilkley to dominate the rest of the half. With the front row of Rob Cranley, James Frost and Will Griffiths providing a solid scrum including several against the head, this allowed the Ilkley back line to move the ball wide where Ben Fletcher and Harry Tarrant made a number of decisive breaks. Ilkley were well on top as the half ended and were disappointed not to be further ahead. . Ilkley started the second half strongly and the entire team were linking in all phases of play. After 12 minutes a period of sustained pressure finally paid off as James Colclough picked up from a ruck and drove over for a try converted by Ben Lambert. It was all Ilkley for the next 15 minutes and further sustained pressure and a series of driving rucks and mauls produced a gap for Tom Crane, who touched down for a converted try. At 19-5 and with 5 minutes left Ilkley went into Sunday lunch mode. A series of self enforced errors, indiscipline and poor decision making gave Barnsley a series of penalties which they took on and forced Ilkley back for the first time in the half. The big Barnsley forwards who had given everything all game came up with a series of driving runs which buckled the Ilkley defense on 69 minutes. With the try converted Barnsley sensed a dramatic late opportunity to win the game. Desperate last ditch defending on the Ilkely 22 by Will Smith and Alex Ickringhill bundled the Barnsley scrum half into touch as he was streaking way for a possible try. The Referee blew at this point much to the relief of the Ilkley supporters. A terrific game played against a very well organized and sporting Barnsley team, so much so that we have asked to play them again.
Sunday 11th November 2007
Ilkley 7 Wharfedale 17
After a good run of results Ilkley ran out of steam in the final quarter against a well organised Wharfedale.
Knowing that Wharfedale have made the quarter final of the Yorkshire Cup made Ilkley aware that they needed to be on top form. They started well with Tom Crane, James Frost and Will Griffiths continually turning over Wharfedale in the loose, giving Ben Lambert
the chance to spread the ball out wide to the three quarters.
A long kick from Charlie Hopkinson half way through the first half gave Ilkley a lineout on the try line. A well worked move by James Pickersgill and James Colclough allowed a drive and maul which was then spun out into midfield where Ben Huggon set the ruck. Ollie Dennis picked and drove over from 5 metres for a try which was converted to give Ilkley a well deserved opening lead.
From then on it was nip and tuck. Some great tackling by Harry Tarrant at inside centre and the two wingers, Alex Lithgow and Alex Ickringill disrupted the Wharfedale back line.
The Wharfedale kickers were beginning to find their range and pushed Ryan Keane at full back deep into the 22 on more than one occasion.
A misfield and some loose clearances from Ilkley allowed Wharfedale to set up camp in the Ilkley 22 and after 30 minutes a series of quick drives and wide moves produced a gap to give Wharfedale a touchdown.
With the conversion missed Ilkley kept up the pressure and were unlucky not to score again before the break, leaving it 7 – 5 at half time.
With the job half done Ilkley needed to come out quickly and maintain the pressure. Whether Wharfedale regrouped or Ilkley switched off is hard to say but a sloppy restart and missed lineout gave an indication of what was to come.
For the next 30 minutes it was backs to the wall as Ilkley got stuck in in their own half. The superior rucking, scrummaging and lineout work of the Wharfedale pack gave them the possession and position denied until then.
Sucked into a ruck 10 metres from their line Ilkley got outnumbered allowing Wharfedale to move the ball wide and score 5 minutes from the restart making it 10 – 7.
To their credit the Ilkley team stuck to their defensive duties. With 6 substitutions and then 5 players taken off with second half injuries made it difficult for Ilkley to find any real fluency against an increasingly dangerous team.
With 7 minutes to go Wharfedale landed the killer blow with a third try which was converted.
The game proved a good benchmark of recent progress and the areas for improvement which will be the focus of the next few weeks’ training.
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