Tim Bucknall Trophy comes home

(apolgies for inaccuracies in original submission)

A warm Otley welcome greeted officials, spectators and players of Ilkley ahead of the renewal of the match played in memory of Ilkley player Tim Bucknall, who died at the young age of 28 almost 29 years ago. Of late, and in recognition of the gap in the league structure between the two clubs’ 1^st XV’s, the match has featured Otley’s second fifteen. Otley have had the trophy safely locked away in their trophy cabinet for some time now.

Cross Green is a friendly place, especially when the grunt and grind of National league rugby is not being played out. It still retains a family atmosphere and despite its somewhat quaint viewing accommodation retains the air of a “proper” rugby club. The Otley home support turned out in numbers with Keith Carroll keeping a firm hold on the team sheet. A good number of Stacks Field faithful made the short trip down the valley for a match that would have none of the nerve jangling qualities of a league Saturday. This would be Corinthian rugby played at the highest level.

The crowd were not to be disappointed. They witnessed a game of rare quality played by two sides who gave 100% for the eighty minutes. Ex Ilkley star and club coach Paul Gray marshalled his men well. There are clearly some players for the future in his young Otley side. His opposite number, the slightly more mature Robin Kay, has produced a highly motivated and well coached squad this season. There was to be no compromise today.

The Dalesmen opened nervously, having to soak up fifteen minutes of unrelenting Otley pressure and two failed penalty shots before there was any sign of relief. However they were saved from conceding a score by some slack Otley handling and some infringements at improper moments.

Referee Rob Staines was clearly intent on keeping a firm grip on proceedings whilst not wishing to interfere too much with what was shaping to be an open and fluid game.

It was 25 minutes before the deadlock was broken.

Otley were continuing to probe deep into Ilkley’s 22 but a scrum was penalised. Ilkley’s lineout was driven and they had another penalty. The lineout, now on Otley’s 22, produced great ball for ex Otley star Simon Smith, but the ball was knocked on in the tackle. Otley scrambled the ball to touch and succumbed to the whistle again at the line. Ilkley secured and sent the ball left then right and finally found Stuart Vincent on a rapier-like line to score. Peter Shanks added the two. The Dalesmen had their tails up at 7 – 0.

Another ex Otley legend, the evergreen Anthony Cadman, showed why he is still such a revered number ten. Otley turned over a quickly taken penalty. The Dalesmen’s scrum, firm and solid all afternoon – how valuable an asset has this unit been this season? – secured well. Cadman chipped on and chased, loosening up the ball. From the ensuing ruck, there was Cadman waiting to send a great ball out to Liam Frost. Frost injected blistering pace before finding Brendan Kelley. Kelley stepped inside and there on his shoulder was that man Vincent on another razor-like running angle to bag his brace for the day. Shanks, he of the metronomic boot, improved to give the Dalesmen a 14 – 0 lead.

Jim McBirnie replaced Vincent for the full-back to take a well-earned rest.

Otley hit straight back with a try created from a lineout on Ilkley’s 22 to reduce the arrears to 14 – 7.

Now the match really opened up. Fiercely fought end to end rugby almost produced scores at both ends. The Dalesmens’ now legendary defence was called on time and again. They scrambled and fought for everything forcing the home side into errors. The back row were up and in Otley faces to hold them up as they pushed hard for an equaliser. Frost pulled off yet another big hit to secure his side a scrum, then a penalty. The lineout on Ilkley’s ten metre line was well secured. Cadman produced another bit of magic with a show and pass to find Frost. Frost was nearly through but, in any case, had hooker Gareth Archer on his shoulder. Archer off-loaded to Kelley whose strength saw him over the line for another converted try. 21 – 7 at half-time was a fair reflection of enterprise and flair, if not territory in the first forty minutes.

Coach Kay could now ring a few changes with such a strong bench to hand.

Fred Matthews entered the fray for Archer.

Immediately Ilkley turned over an Otley ball. Cadman saw space and chipped delicately into Otley’s 22. Frost gave chase, collected, recycled well to set up a lineout ten metres. The throw was good, the lnie secured, the drive unstoppable. Mark Hibbs scored, rolling off the back of his tremendous pack. Shanks converted. 28 – 7.

The rest of the half was delight. Both sides contributed to the considerable entertainment. One or two of the home crowd were heard to crave such rugby every week.

It was the home side who hit back. Cadman had cleared long but, enterprise being the order of the day, the Otley wing took a quick throw to himself to set up a beautiful move involving forwards and backs to finish with Otley’s winger feeding their tireless scrum half  to score under the posts. 28 – 14, just two scores away.

Then came the defining moment of the match. A delicate pop pass from Cadman found Shanks going faster than he can ever remember, on a burst to the Otley 22. The ball was recycled well to find Frost out left. A lovely side step gave him an inch of space to squeeze through and over wide out to make it 33 – 14. 25 minutes to go.

Tim Barley replaced Ollie Coughlan, Ollie Davie, Mike Lammas and Chris Weatherby, Brendan Kelley.

Otley pulled the score back to 33 – 19 with a try by their centre after yet another period of great home side pressure and more massive Dalesmen defensive action.

One last Otley barrage failed to produce another score and, at last, pressure was relieved after a scrum was secured for Iain McKenzie to burst clear and lay on a forwards try finished by stalwart Charles Cudworth to make it 40 – 19.

Andy Rhodes, in distinctive blue boots, replaced the golden boots of Shanks.

The Dalesmen finished strongly to hold on to that 21 point lead. Generous applause from the Cross Green men and their supporters signalled the conclusion to fine match contributed to by players and referee alike.

The trophy was handed back to Ilkley after a touching speech by the Otley team manager. Ilkley skipper Iain McKenzie said that he was grateful for the test his men had had from a good side. It would set the team up well for a gruelling last five league games. They begin this Saturday when the Dalesmen take the annual charabanc to the seaside where hosts Scarborough, still looking for a top two finish, lie in wait at Scalby Road.

The league table has Ilkley in second place two points ahead of Selby, but crucially with a game in hand. Ilkley have to travel to Sheffield and Selby and welcome Bridlington and Bradford Salem to Stacks Field to complete this long hard season. Play-offs for promotion will follow, should results fall right, and if Sandal don’t slip up in their run in.

In the meantime Ilkley Rugby Club’s work in the local schools continues apace. Community Coach Dave Duxbury reckons every pupil at Ilkley Grammar School has had the chance to try his hand at boys’ rugby and the growing interest has swelled numbers participating at school and in the junior section of the club. What is more girls’ rugby is up and running with teams in two year groups. A major milestone was reached this week with the first ever girls’ match on Tuesday evening (details to follow)………………………………………………………………………………

So great is interest in the sport that a recent Tag rugby course for coaches was attended by five boys and nine girls. These young people will now be able to help Duxbury in his Tag Rugby coaching at primary schools during spring and summer. What is more, it is an important credential for them in their Community Leadership profile.

Duxbury’s costs are sponsored by Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential, Myddelton Construction and Micklegate Special Projects with help from Bradford Council.

Young Dalesman  Steve Wilson is in for a year without a summer. He is going out to the home of the All Blacks on the “Ilkley Rugby Scholarship” during his gap year prior to attending Manchester University. Ilkley have a close relationship with the Marist club in Auckland where Joe will be hosted initially by the family of the splendid Richard Kemble before integrating into the “Marist family” and learning the All Black way of rugby. Marist is the junior club for North Harbour and above them, the provincial Auckland Blues side.

Current Dalesman skipper Iain McKenzie and prop Fred Matthews both benefited from this unique experience. Steve will be keeping in touch with the club via their website www.ilkleyrugby.co.uk.

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