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Dalesmen come close but lead is bitten off by Crocs in final minutes

An altogether better display by the Dalesmen saw a tense second period move into the closing minutes before league leaders Crocs finally breached the home side’s defensive line and shattered hopes of what had appeared an unlikely victory after the first minute of the match.

An ominous start had the packed home crowd with all sorts of palpitations as, first an Ilkley scrum was unceremoniously pushed of the ball, a lineout lost and two set scrums later centre Neil Richardson crashed over under the posts for a try scored before most of the pre-match lunch guests had time to fasten their overcoats. Jonathan Davies converted to give the high flyers from Halifax the dream start.

The Old Crossleyans club was born out of the Crossley and Porters Grammar School in Halifax and boasts some great names in its list of old boys including the Bulldog, now pundit and journalist Brian Moore and current Northampton coach Jim Mallinder. The school itself has its name on the winners' board of the famous but sadly now defunct Ilkley Schools Seven a Side tournament that was such a favourite occasion for the great and the good up to the seventies.

Crocs were promoted to this league two years ago having won at Stacks Field in February of that year by 35 -17. They have now established themselves as a front runner for promotion this time. It is a matter of finding your feet and building on it. This is the task of the Dalesmen and their coaching team as those crucial results just won’t seem to materialise despite great promise and endeavour in most of the matches played to date. Here was a case in point.

Not cowed by the early disappointment, Ilkley threw themselves back at the Crocs. Two penalties in their favour later and a lineout 5 metres out on the right, they secured good ball, whipped it down the line and out to flyer Dan Nulty. Nulty was just held up before the line but managed to slip a treat of an inside pass to find centre Stuart Vincent on his shoulder. Vincent made it over the line. Referee Mr Nigel Dickinson signalled “try”. Now Peter Shanks had a chance from wide out to level it. His kick split the uprights, the touch judges’ flags went up. 7 – 7.

Suddenly it was the Dalesmen who were looking like the high flyers. Four excellent phases later Mr Dickinson indicated a penalty kick inside the Crocs’ 22. Shanks duly obliged and what had seemed unlikely, nay impossible eight minutes ago was now on the scoreboard. Ilkley 10, Visitors 7.

Thirty minutes of the half were played out with no further score but plenty of incident. Tim Barley was bringing a new dimension to the fly half role with Shanks, Vincent and Simon Smith always ready to run at the defence and the winged legs of Nulty posing a threat wide out left. But once again it was the forwards who were making the hard yards and going through the wringer putting together phase after phase of good ball. Skipper Iain McKenzie and Jonny Shanks were at the forefront both stopping Crocs coming off set pieces and in attack too. Some of Shanks tackling was out of the top drawer.

Crocs too showed why they are a top of the table side. They had the upper hand in the set scrum but only once did they take a ball against the head. The old colossus Tony Greig making yet another appearance at number eight was given some tough tasks to pick and drive, but he was well up to the task. Some of his drives were reminiscent of old times. One, at the end of the half, took play right to Crocs’ line but the chance was spoiled by an over eager hand in the ruck.

Crocs meanwhile were enjoying a plentiful supply of decent ball and clearly had some strike force potential in their strong back line. However their handling was distinctly off colour as Ilkley’s defence were constantly in their faces.

Another league match (7 out of 9) went into half time with Dalesmen in the lead, and deservedly so.

Referee Mr Dickinson is an interesting character, having officiated at the top level of both codes of Rugby. He has now chosen the 15 man version as his preferred form of relaxation on a Saturday. His officiating encourages continuity in the game. Only his bright orange shirt made him stand out on the field, otherwise, as all good referees, he was largely unnoticed although, as the game grew increasingly tense, his use of advantage began to increase the tension in the crowd.

The second half saw the Dalesmen continue to enjoy the pick of the good play. Nulty had a chip and chase go close only to be spoiled by a knock-on. That little dynamo Jonny Shanks broke well to set up a great cross field move which ended up with Vincent winning a penalty inside the Crocs 22 wide out. Shanks just missed the kick. Then a loose pass spoiled a good move with men over out right. Phil Howell, playing today at full back, began to really find his range and distance with some telling touch finders. Ilkley were rewarded for their efforts as Crocs, trying to run the ball from deep, were penalised for crossing. Shanks slotted a long range effort from the Crocs ten metre line. 13 – 7 and only fifteen minutes to go. Could this be the shock result of the day?

The penalty count, along with the heart rate of the spectators, began to rise.

Nulty was unlucky to be blown for a push in the back as he was apparently being impeded from following up a trade mark chip and chase. Crocs had a lineout at half way, then a penalty, then a lineout on the home 22. England under 18 squad man Richard Rhodes burgled another and Howell cleared only for another penalty to give Crocs a lineout on the 22 again. This time they moved it wide and with number eight Stewart Hill making the extra man the Dalesmen were caught. Hill crashed over to score and agonisingly Davies’ kick curled in off the upright to give the visitors the lead 14 -13.

With only eight minutes to go this was a hammer blow. Charlie Cudworth came on for the colossus and Duncan Sayers for Gavin Petterd. Try as did, the Dalesmen didn’t really get back into points scoring territory. Crocs knew they just had to keep play in the middle of the field. They did that and did it well. It was with the last play of the match that Nulty was forced back into his own 22 to clear up a delicately sensible chip, that a speculative pass back to Howell was the only real option. Unfortunately it was a poor effort and fly half Chris Jones only had to pick up and stroll over to make the final score 21 – 13, Davies once again landing the conversion.

Even the Crocs supporters were thanking lady luck. The Ilkley faithful can be heartened by this display. The Ilkley team can be heartened too. They are slowly but surely coming to terms with the higher level and slowly but surely they will grind out some wins as this long league season develops. Where they will be at the end of it is anyone’s guess as surprises are beginning to happen. Pointless Durham City grabbed a shock win at Driffield, another of the favourites for top spot.

This week see the Dalesmen out of the cup and without a fixture. The second fifteen are at home Moortown’s first fifteen in a friendly match.

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