News and reports on Ilkley under 12's || Official Ilkley RUFC - The Official website of Ilkley - Official. News and Message Boards. For true Ilkley

Sunday 25th November 2007

West Park 21, Ilkley 14

A tense and hard fought game which Ilkley were a little unlucky to lose. Ilkley took the early advantage with David Squirrel powering over to score in the corner after a tap penalty awarded to Ilkley. Although Ilkley had the stronger and bigger pack, West Park's rucking and mauling was technically superior and they turned over possession too often for the visitors liking. Only some resolute tackling by the Ilkley backs kept the home side at bay, but an equalising try was inevitable and came just before the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter both sides were generally playing good rugby, although posession was lost too easily in the loose by Ilkley. Jamie Moss made a try saving tackle before West Park got a second score to put the home side ahead at half time. Ilkley started to make use of their size advantage in set scrums after the interval, winning a lot of ball on the opposition's put-in, and generating real pressure on the home defence, but handling errors meant that the backs didnt capitalise on the posession won. West Park were dangerous on the break, and good tackles by Luke Hope-Robinson and David Squirrel were needed to keep them out. The third West Park try came after a penalty and a couple of unlucky handling errors by Ilkley's backs behind their own goal line. Ilkley's boys showed some real spirit now, driving forward again with a great rolling maul, and an intercept by Jack Coen on the West Park goal line gave him an opportunistic score which put the visitors back in the game. A penalty kick to touch, line out and another good forward drive put Ilkley right on the home side's goal line again, but the ball was held up, the whistle blew, and West Park escaped with a narrow victory.

Sunday 7th October 2007

Ripon 19, Ilkley 21

A narrow but deserved victory for Ilkley, playing a physical game on an energy sapping full size pitch. Early exchanges were even, but it was clear Ripon's powerful forwards were going to cause trouble, both at set pieces and in loose play. A wayward Ilkley kick allowed a Ripon forward to go on a marauding run and when several tackles were missed, the home side seized an early score. Ilkley kept their composure, and struck back when some swift passing from a good scrum allowed Jack Coen to find space and score. Ilkley gained territory with strong runs by Kodie Brook, and one of these put Ilkley close to the try line, where Jack Coen pounced on a poor pass by Ripon to score his second. With the Ilkley forwards having to work very hard to win and keep ball at the breakdown, and Ripon making penetrating attacks, it was still a very even game when a loose ball picked up near the Ilkley line gave Ripon their second try. The home side looked on top when a sprint down the wing gave them a third. But Ilkley didnt roll over, and when a drive forward by George Flesher put pressure again on the home side near their line, man of the match Jack Coen once again snapped on a poor pass and scored his third, which he converted to give Ilkley the win by the narrowest margin. Coach John Coen said "this was a good team performance - a match we would have probably lost last year but this time we dug in for the win".