Photographs ( 220 ) from Saturdays game Sandal vs Ilkley ( N2E ) have now been uploaded to www.ruggerpix.com  Enter the site click on photographs and then 2008-2009 Games. To see all photos click ‘all’ above right hand thumbnails and wait for photo’s to load

Sandal prove too hot to live with

It is precisely two years ago that Ilkley first met Sandal in the 20+ year history of league rugby. That day was similar weather-wise – hot and sunny but the game was totally different. Two years ago the Dalesmen came away with a 24 – 8 victory. That league fixture marked the start of coach Jim Kilfoyle’s reign at Sandal. He had to be content with an initial year of fairly mediocre results, but last year produced a side that was eminently the best in the league, thoroughly deserving of their Yorkshire league one title and Yorkshire Shield. The nail-biter fought out by these two sides at the end of last season will go down as one of the best games of league rugby ever witnessed by the huge crowd privileged to be there. Both sides went on to promotion, Sandal as champions, Ilkley via the play-offs.The vagaries of the draw pitched the two together again in the first league fixture of the season, Sandal having home advantage.

Kilfoyle’s side was virtually the same as last season, but for the world travelling scrum half and looked settled, stable and raring to go.

Ilkley’s side, by contrast, had a new look to it, with the departure of Jack Shaylor, Jim McBirnie and Liam Frost with changes up front as well. Ilkley have it all to learn with the new experience of North 2 rugby and were found wanting in the experience department.

The Dalesmen opened brightly enough and spent 5 minutes doing lots of things right with Simon Smith, in the centre this term, making a decent break. The forwards, too, were pursuing their speciality of winning ball at ground level. However a spilt ball gave Sandal a scrum and allowed them to break out and with great hands and powerful running moved the ball wide and left for their first try in the corner. Scorer, Danny Mitchell.

This was precisely what Sandal wanted to propel them into top gear, and even more precisely what the Dalesmen didn’t want as they were struggling to find their potential at these new heady heights.

Five more tries followed in the half at fairly regular intervals.

The first followed a turnover ball which Sandal exploited with a break through the gap left by defenders tied into the ruck. Scorer, Flyer Simon Frewin

Next a penalty took Sandal to Ilkley’s 22 metre line. A free kick for jumping early in the line was punished as Frewin bagged his second try.

17 – 0 down after ten minutes, the Dalesmen must have felt their world collapsing.

A brief respite saw the Dalesmen put together some of the enterprising rugby seen last season. Andy Cromack pulled out a magnificent tackle to initiate a 5 minute period of sustained pressure with 6 or 7 phases. A penalty was the scant reward, but sensibly points on the board were preferred and the solitary 3 points of the day were supplied by Peter Shanks.

A quarter of the match gone, could the tide be held back?

The wave of optimism lasted a full 5 minutes before Sandal re-engaged top gear.

A knock-on gifted them the ball on Ilkley’s 10 metre line. They broke left, recycled well and put in prop Sam Tee for a score of might and fury.

A further 5 minutes of solid defence was spoilt by a momentary and unfamiliar lapse of concentration at a lineout. That man Tee gathering a loose ball to charge in again from 20 metres.

There was another momentary revival as Simon Smith again showed what a danger he can be, charging through to Sandal’s 22, but the recycled ball was knocked on to frustrate a promising move.

Smith fell badly and had to leave the field with a jarred shoulder. Brendan Kelley replaced him.

Now Sandal had Ilkley completely shell-shocked and threatened to run (even more) riot.

An Ilkley scrum was pushed off the ball and Sandal recorded their sixth try of the half as Andy Hall scored in the corner.

Half time came almost mercifully to allow Coach Hamish Pratt to counsel his beleaguered men and to salvage something from the game. His counselling must have had effect because, despite conceding 2 more second half tries, his side put up a much more robust performance.

They were playing uphill and, for ten minutes, with 14 men after Phil Howells was somewhat inexplicably yellow-carded by excellent referee Mr Tovey. Stuart Brewer was also a mid-half casualty coming off as precautionary measure, Mark Hibbs replaced him.

The half was altogether more satisfactory with some great tackling by the whole defensive line.

In fact the whole side lifted themselves as if they had a game to win, rather simply playing for pride. Unfortunately the error and penalty count let them down at critical moments.

A knock-on off a loose ball from a Sandal lineout midway through the half gave a Sandal a scrum on the Ilkley 22. A silky pass and a wonderful inside sliding movement caught the Ilkley defence flat-footed and Frewin glided through with some flamboyance to score under the posts.

Jonathan Hutchinson gave way to Fred Matthews up front as the Dalesmen battled on gallantly but yet another knock-on on half way gave Sandal a scrum, then a penalty, then a lineout to take them close in. Still the Dalesmen defended like dervishes, but a scrum allowed the home side to put the icing on their cake as fly half Tom Smith waltzed through a gaping hole in midfield to score another superb try.

Smith had converted four the 8 tries to make the final tally 48 points for his side.

With only 5 minutes to go, suddenly the Dalesmen seemed to get the rub of the green as far refereeing decisions go and successive penalties saw them spend those 5 minutes battling for a consolation score. They threw phase after phase at the Sandal line, but to no avail. Sandal were pumped up in defence as well as attack and, as Ann Robinson would say, Ilkley went home with nothing!

That is not to be deprecating. This Sandal side was as good as any seen in the whole of Ilkley’s 20 year campaign in the league system. Kilfoyle has blended a great bunch of lads into a great side. It is for sure they will be pushing for honours this season as well.

Take nothing away from Ilkley. They never gave an inch without a battle. They fought hard and mean up front. They tackled hard out wide. They will surely improve with this salutary experience under their belts.

They did return to Stacks Field with their heads held up and their pride intact.

Pratt will now have to work the oracle, both physical and psychological, in training this week ahead of this Saturdays encounter with East Yorkshire Driffield, a side which featured on Ilkley’s fixture list in the days before leagues (who remembers those?). They have not met in a league game since then.

The game is at Stacks Field, kick-off is at 3 p.m.

At Stacks Field Ilkley’s second fifteen came up against a rejuvenated Bradford & Bingley second string a came out on top 19 points to 11.

This was a strong performance which will gladden the hearts of the Ilkley coaching team.

Scoring came from:

Chris Weatherby - 2 tries

Nick Bell - 1 try

Pete Wilson - 2 conversions

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