Pics  to follow later this week.

Dalesmen squeezed out in final quarter

The process of getting used to life in the higher league is still vey much work in progress for the Dalesmen. After the shock of the Sandal onslaught another tough assignment awaited them at Stacks Field on this most temperate of Autumn afternoons. Stacks Field was clothed in all its glory and provided a perfect pitch and even more perfect backdrop for this first North 2 league encounter with last season’s third placed side, Driffield. Driffield came off the back of a good win the previous week, at home to the Dalesmens’ next opponents Carlisle.

A bumper crowd, swelled by the guests of a generous sponsor who had been royally wined and dined, were anticipating a tough battle. They were not to be disappointed.

Mr Paul Candlish, a referee of high standing in the Durham Society, took charge. In the end it was his penalising of Ilkley’s misdemeanours that had the greatest influence on the outcome of proceedings. The final penalty count was 14 – 5 against the Dalesmen. No grumbles from anyone on the decisions, just a salutary lesson that mistakes will be punished more than ever in this company. It was another (only marginal) mistake that cost the first score.

Driffield kicked off. Ilkley gathered. Phil Howell’s clearance was long. It flirted with the touchline in front of the grandstand but was kept infield and spun wide through the hands of the whole Driffield three quarter line before flyer McLaren found open space to score in the corner. 5 – 0 down and just a minute gone. Not the start the Dalesmen wanted!

They had to get this setback out the system straight away and they had a chance within minutes.

They forced a knock-on from the restart, won the scrum and gained a penalty. A further 10 metres for dissent got them near enough for Peter Shanks to have a pot from wide out. It was just short of the mark but lifted spirits.

Another fine play saw the Ilkley forwards passing the ball smoothly and at pace only to knock on 10 metres out. The Driffield scrum came under pressure. Ilkley had another penalty and then a lineout 5 metres out. The first line was defended. A Driffield lineout was forced into touch. Ilkley’s throw from Duncan Sayers was spot on. The ball was spun wide and then back to Stuart Vincent on an inside run. His pop pass found Reiner Botha on an unstoppable charge to the line to give the Dalesmen their first try in North 2. Shanks converted for a 7 – 5 lead after 11 minutes.

Now Ilkley had their backs up.

They rucked Driffield off a ball at the back of a lineout. Sayers charged like a raging bull. The ball was recycled and spun wide right to find seven Ilkley players queuing up to score. It was the incisive Vincent who claimed the touchdown and now they had the lead. 12 – 5.

The euphoria was to only to last another 5 minutes. Rather ominously, as it transpired, the counter was initiated with a Driffield penalty awarded on half way. A tremendous touchfinder found the Dalesmen defending a lineout on their 22. It was secured by Driffield and spun wide and deep to powerful centre C Masina who punched through a somewhat gaping hole to score under the posts. His compatriot D Jacobs squared matters with the conversion, 12 – 12 and only 22 minutes gone. This was going to be a thriller. It was tense too and perhaps it was the tension that got to the less experienced Dalesmen.

The fact that they were to get only two more penalties awarded in their favour in the final three quarters of the match was telling. The fact that Driffield got 12 was even more telling.

One of those penalties was one that Shanks could have goaled but the short tap and go was preferred. Points and, more important, two score leads are precious commodities in this league.

The final 20 minutes of the half were Ilkley’s. The forwards were dominant in set pieces, rucks and mauls, mopping up lots of loose ball and disrupting any possession the visitors were getting.

Simon Smith’s running was powerful. Vincent found his lines of running well and both went close before a loose pass spoiled the chances at the last gasp.

Howell chipped to the posts but Driffield scrambled clear. Moments later he was called on to clear off his own line too.

All the time that penalty count was building – 5 more against the Dalesmen before the half time whistle.

Still, 12 – 12 at the break had the Ilkley faithful full of hope and no small degree of optimism.

The second period continued at blistering pace in the searing heat – a credit to both sides’ fitness.

Both sides threatened but the score remained deadlocked for 25 minutes. Ilkley came close a number of times with Jimmy Lee showing some deft work from behind the scrum. Stuart Brewer made good ground and, when called on, the Ilkley defence held firm under some growing Driffield pressure, Ian Moffatt pulling off one great tackle. Young debutant Tom Hebditch too contributed well to the defensive effort as Driffield’s strike force threatened.

That penalty continued to build. One, inside Driffield’s half, took the visitors back to the Ilkley 10 metre line. Then a scrum on the 25 metre line produced another of those superb deep balls for Masina to run on to at blistering pace on an unstoppable line. He scored wide out. His side were now 17 -12 in front.

Ilkley were not for lying down and continued to press but a good chance was spilled to give Driffield a break out of defence. Another penalty, a lineout and a great attacking move took Driffield to the posts where the seemingly inevitable penalty goal from Jacobs saw the deficit increase to 8 points. 20 -12.

Fred Matthews whose propping had helped the Dalesmen win the battle up at the coal face succumbed to an ankle injury, Gavin Petterd replaced him. BJ Fowler replaced the irrepressible Jonny Shanks.

Then the ELV’s came into play. Ilkley took a Driffield lineout 30 metres out. The ball was secured. Lee passed to Howell who cleared well but Mr Candlish ruled he had passed from outside his 22. Driffield had the lineout. This time they secured well. They found full-back T Wright on a great run. He was stopped bravely just short but managed to pop a lovely little pass into the hands of back-rower J Harrison who charged over for the killer punch. Jacobs added the conversion to make it 27 -12 and now probably out of reach for the gallant Dalesmen.

Andy Cromack replaced Vincent and in the final 5 minutes of added time they went close twice but were thwarted when close in by that frustrating poor pass and the now inevitable penalty offence.

Final score 27 – 12.

The Dalesmen can take heart from this much improved display against another side who will surely be challenging for honours at the end of the season. Clearly there are issues to be addressed by coach Pratt ahead of Saturdays’ journey to Carlisle. The supporters’ coach is undersubscribed, so cars or the team coach are options for those wishing to travel to this first ever fixture with the Cumbrian side.

The Dalesmen’s second fifteen, a fine mixture of experience and exuberant youth, took on the Driffield second string on the back pitch at Stacks Field. A welcome return to action for Terence Sibanda on one wing with the steadily returning to match fitness of Dan Nulty on the other produced three tries for the wingmen in a 46 – 10 demolition of a side that had held a narrow lead up to half time.

Ollie Coughlan turned in a sound performance at scrum half in the first period and fly half in the second.

Lots of good performances here for coach Pratt to note when looking forward this season.

This week the 2nds entertain Morley at Stacks Field in league fixture.

Related Links:
Sandal 48 Ilkley 3
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