Sorry, Peter away this week - no pics

Spoils shared in Cumbrian battle

The Dalesmen and a dedicated band of supporters made the long trip to Carlisle for a first ever meeting between the two clubs. The September sun which bathed the excellent Carlisle ground and good crowd was a warm as the welcome.

That was as far as the warmth went. The game was a superb exhibition of uncompromising league rugby, clearly just a step up from the fayre in Yorkshire league one.

The referee too was excellent. Andy Hampshire applied the laws accurately and as necessary. If anything, Ilkley got the benefit in the first half, Carlisle the second. What the spectators on the sheltered stand hadn’t worked out, the same applied to a tricky little wind blowing end to end.

After a nervous start when it seemed Carlisle might score with the first attack, the Dalesmen got their first break – a penalty to clear, the ball taken well by Phil Howell from a pass on his toes.

End to end stuff followed with the returning Terence Sibanda almost going in after a text book move down the line from right to left. Perceptibly Ilkley were gaining the upper hand with Carlisle apparently unable to string play together long enough to get close. Stand off George Graham looked a class act as did centre Barry Earl.

Ilkley seemed the more complete outfit with the forwards eking out the hard yards and an altogether more confident feeling to the backs. The first score came after 20 minutes. A penalty took the Dalesmen to Carlisle’s 22. They ball secured, they almost contrived to lose it but regathered. Howell probed across field with a grubber forcing the defender to assist the ball into touch. Another lineout was secured but no advantage gained. Carlisle had a throw then a scrum and, in their now desperate defence, they conceded a penalty. The touch and lineout option was chosen. The ball went long and Jonny Shanks gladly picked it first bounce and charged over for a precious try. His brother Peter marked his family’s return to their old club by stroking over the conversion and, for the first time in this league season Ilkley held a lead. 7 – 0.

Ilkley’s confidence was up. Memories of last season came flooding back.

Sibanda had a great chance to increase the lead after some enterprise from Howell. It was all hands to the deck for the home side as they provoked Mr Hampshire to use his whistle to compound their problems.

A momentary break-out was curtailed by Mr Hampshire. The penalty took Ilkley back to their 22. the lineout was secured and a classic back move from right to left, with full-back Stuart Vincent coming in to make the extra man on a superb line provided Sibanda the space sufficient to bag the score. Shanks was wide his kick but 12 – 0 looked like manna from heaven and the signs were of more to come.

It then got a bit messy with Ilkley losing their crispness. Another returnee Dan Nulty, he of the winged boots, succumbed to a hamstring. The lionhearted Ian Moffatt replaced him.

Carlisle regathered and began to gain the initiative. They spent the final five minutes of the half battering Ilkley’s line with phase after phase close in. Again memories of those great defensive efforts of last season returned as they held on and held the charge at bay. Seemingly inevitably Ilkley conceded a penalty. Mr Hampshire was moved to stop things and the familiar colour of yellow was shown. Skipper Iain McKenzie was out of the game for ten minutes and there were still 2 of them to come in the half. Somehow the 14 men held the onslaught out and Mr Hampshire’s shrill whistle was relief indeed.

Coach Hamish Pratt had a chance to urge his men on to greater things and to up their game to negate the manpower deficiency. Ilkley made a promising start to the second period but just lacked the cutting edge. McKenzie returned. Could they restore the first half upper hand?

Jonny Shanks took a blood bin rest to have a head wound attended. Warhorse Charlie Cudworth replaced him.

Shanks cleared well to touch. Carlisle secured the line on Ilkley’s 10 metre mark. Then they won a scrum and then the deadly penalty to provide a lineout 5 metres out. Four good phases and the danger man Earl made the killer break to score under the posts. 12 – 7 to Ilkley after 15 minutes.

Almost immediately they looked to have another but Mr Hampshire ruled forward pass. From the scrum Ilkley cleared but that wind entered the fray, keeping the ball in play. Carlisle scored again after Ilkley heads seemed to drop momentarily, the other class act today George Graham doing the business down the right wing. The kick, mercifully for the Dalesmen, struck the upright and stayed out. 12 – 12. 25 minutes to go.

5 minutes later Ilkley’s lead had gone. A penalty put Carlisle 15 – 12 ahead.

Ilkley recovered momentum, newcomer young Tom Hebditch making some useful ground and setting up a period of sustained Ilkley pressure, a poor pass finally put paid to that effort.

Carlisle hit back and nearly scored and to add insult to the near miss, misfired a sitter penalty attempt.

Finally Peter Shanks got his chance to level scores and despite the wind, the nerves and a long wide angle he slotted the penalty kick. 15 – 15.

The Dalesmen sensed victory and had opportunities in the last 5. The final pass or a fumbled pick up foiled them.

A draw, the first league point for both sides and one/two places off the bottom was a “result” for both but probably more for the Dalesmen. The duck is broken!

For spectators it was spell-binding and nerve racking. For the players it was rugby of the highest intensity.

This week the Dalesmen entertain Billingham at Stacks Field. Hold onto your seats, it should be another thriller. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.

Related Links:
Ilkley 12 Driffield 27
League Table
Fixtures