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The frustration of leading and then falling over later in the game goes on for the Dalesmen

A long trip up the Great North road on a grey November day is not the best way to work up an appetite for a game of rugby. But in this league, North two, it goes with the territory. Every other week there’s another bit of the North Eastern part of our island to familiarise with.

Heavy overnight rain had put some doubt over the game being played but the weather held off long enough to allow it to proceed and the sun even illuminated the ground during the game.

A number of changes to the Ilkley side, some through availability, some through injury saw the seasonal debuts of both Tim Barley at full back and Tony Greig, that colossus of old, back in the number 8 slot. Scrum half Ollie Coughlan got his first start of the campaign at the expense of Jimmy Lee.

Chris Weatherby, Gavin Petterd and Charlie Cudworth made up the bench.

Gateshead who, like Ilkley are a strictly amateur club, were buoyed by a good win last week at Aspatria. They had their tails up. That is certainly how they looked as the game got underway. The opening salvos were fairly neutral but indicative of the standards of play throughout. Neither side seemed to be able to pass accurately or, if a pass was well aimed, to be able to catch the ball.

A chapter of errors saw the Dalesmen once again exerting the upper hand in the driving and mauling areas although the scrum did come under unusual pressure from a gnarled and experienced Gateshead front row. Tony Greig often found himself having to pick up ball going backwards and then try to make up the deficit.

The stalemate was broken when, from an Ilkley lineout that was lost on half way, the Gateshead back line finally put a move together. Centre Alex Tilley punched a huge hole through the middle from deep. With the Dalesmens’ defence punctured he found skipper and full-back David Tate positively flying on to his pass to score. The conversion attempt rattled the upright but stayed out. The home side were ahead. Ilkley had the foothills of another mountain to climb. Only 12 minutes gone.

Now to their credit The Dalesmen did start to put their game together and came back strongly. The first result was a shot at goal from a distance and wide out, Peter Shanks’ kick just fading under the bar. Then more good play through the forwards drove them to within a whisker but the Gateshead defence held strong. A penalty in front of goal was the reward for creeping offside. Shanks’ boot this time made no mistake. 5 – 3.

For 15 minutes it looked as though Ilkley could haul themselves back into the game. Despite the continuing inability by both sides to make passes stick or to find any penetration with back play, the Ilkley forwards took the game to the home side. It seemed perhaps they had lost their belief in try scoring because there were at least 3 good opportunities.

Tim Barley, a prodigious talent on his day, then got in the act from full-back, picking up well and making ground to the Gateshead 22. A lineout was well secured and from that, referee Mr Candlish signalled penalty. Phil Howell had read it right and his drop goal attempt was superseded by another kick from in front for Shanks. 30 minutes gone and Ilkley had a marginally deserved lead 6 – 5. Could they hold on to half time and take that advantage into the second period as they have done on 5 out of 7 matches so far? Regretfully the answer to that was no! With 40 minutes on the clock Ilkley were putting together a meaningful attack down the right. A pass was spilled and the ball bobbled erratically but somehow found its way into a Gateshead player’s grateful hands. He looked up to see the flying fifteen at full steam and sent him in for a try under the posts, it has to be said against the run of play.

But now the Dalesmen had to take a 12 – 6 deficit into the second half. On the balance of play in the first there was certainly a chance to move that foothill which had suddenly grown somewhat higher.

The final scoreline says it all for that second period. Ilkley’s play deteriorated with the fading daylight. Yes, they did threaten the Gateshead line with their forward play but now only in less intense periods. However, ball handling prowess continued to elude them and it was basic mistakes that were to blame for the three further tries Gateshead added in the half. Two of those tries fell to that man Tate to complete his hat trick and one to winger Lewis Carr. Each one of those scores must be like hammer blow to a side which gives its all. Each of the three replacements made an appearance and it is to be hoped that the injuries to Simon Smith and Duncan Sayers do not prove to be serious. The final scoreline Gateshead 33, Ilkley 6.

Mistakes emanate from lack of confidence and clearly confidence is lacking in certain areas, even dare we say, in all areas. Coach Hamish Pratt and his team have a real job to do to lift their men ahead of this week’s tricky home tie with Old Crossleyans who currently top the league. However nothing is cut and dry. The ability is there if only the confidence was there too. Early season displays, particularly in the first half of their games, have proved that it can be done. The task is now not to lose heart and not to break the winning streak of this week’s lunch host, a leading yarn supplier to the textile industry. Kick off for the match against Old Crossleyans is 2.15 p.m.

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