Ilkley’s second team kept up their winning run of league matches with a workmanlike if ugly win over Bradford and Bingley 30 points to 3. That stalwart, the colossus Tony Greig bagged a hat trick, with Chris Weatherby and Martin Hemingway adding two more. Andrew Rhodes added the other 5 points with his trusty boot.

The Dalesmen’s second fifteen travelled the long road to Scunthorpe to take on another outfit that plies its first team trade in higher leagues. They came out winners in a tense affair 26 points to 24. Tries were scored by young winger Andy Cromack and his counterpart Chris Weatherby, Ian Moffatt and Pete Turner. Goals kicked by Andy Rhodes. First team squad players Ian Moffatt and Brendan Kelley formed a formidable centre pairing. This is another great achievement in the development of this highly promising team.

The rampant second fifteen travelled to Sandal for a midday kick-off. In another bruising encounter they came out winners 17 - 0 with tries from Andy Cromack and Chris Weatherby. Andy Rhodes added the goals to seal another great victory. They now have set their sights on a top four finish in the premier league for second fifteens in Yorkshire. Skipper Andrew Draper said he was confident the side would only get better and had learnt a lot form their early experiences playing the senior clubs in Yorkshire.

Driffield 2nd XV 8, Ilkley 2nd XV 13

Ilkley's resurgent second fifteen made the long journey to East Yorkshire to take on North one outfit Driffield.

This Ilkley side, a good blend of youth and experience, was fresh from their superb victory at Morley and raring to go at a Driffield side featuring four first teamers in their starting line up, and two more on the bench.

Tries from big Jon Hutchinson, getting valuable game time following a weeks' absence on the piste, and the prodigious Andy Cromack with Andrew Rhodes adding a penalty gave the Dalesmen the edge in a tight contest. The Ilkley side are now establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in this tough premier second fifteen league.

The Morley and Driffield results are truly fine performances and bode well for the future.

This weekend the Dalesmens’ first fifteen, without a game at the weekend as result of a frost bound Yarnbury pitch, visit Sandal for a 2.15 p.m. kick off in the battle of the Titans in Yorkshire league one (league leaders Sandal with 27 points, play second Ilkley with 26 points), whilst the second team also go to Sandal for a midday kick-off.

Meanwhile Ilkley's conquerors in the EDF Vase competition, Old Brodleians, were knocked out in the quarter final tie, away at Spalding in a narrow 15 -12 defeat. That probably takes a bit of the pain away from losing to Brods in the last 32, with Twickenham on the horizon.

On the injury front Iain McKenzie’s badly damaged face is healing, The stitches (13 of them), were removed last weekend. The club’s website has had a number of posts apoplectic about the behaviour of the YMCA player responsible. It was not the kind of play expected at any level of rugby. A number of spectators, attending an Ilkley match for the first time, must have wondered whether this sort of play was normal. Well, thankfully, virtually all the league matches in which the Dalesmen have participated this season have been played in tremendous spirit and sportsmanship. This incident was an exception to the norm in Yorkshire league rugby. It is to be hoped it remains so.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Morley	13	12	0	1	528	117	24
Wharfedale	14	12	0	2	578	131	24
Cleckheaton	14	10	0	4	296	225	20
Harrogate	13	8	0	5	395	248	16
Sheffield Tigers	17	8	0	9	320	369	16
Hull Ionians	13	7	1	5	359	238	15
Beverley	12	6	0	6	172	237	12
Ilkley	15	6	0	9	272	375	12
Scunthorpe	14	5	0	9	239	434	10
Huddersfield	14	6	0	8	160	395	12
Sheffield	11	3	0	8	152	384	6
Hull	13	2	1	10	187	297	5
Bradford & Bingley	12	3	0	9	179	287	4

Saturday 26th January 2008

What a transformation. What a win!

Saturday 19th January

pics are at www.image-and-style.co.uk ilkley rfc 2007-2008 games

Ilkley  40,  Cleckheaton 7

Despite the recent heavy and persistent rain which caused the cancellation of many rugby fixtures in Yorkshire the Ilkley versus Cleckheaton “A” team match, produced attractive rugby by both sides on a heavy pitch.  Ilkley won by a comfortably wide margin against a side highly placed in the league, scoring five tries.

The expectations of Cleckeaton’s experienced pack being physically dominant did not materialise and Ilkley’s line out and set scrum was especially strong.  Also, the home team’s second row and back row were particularly effective.  Hooker Gareth Archer had an outstanding match heeling balls against the head and being prominent in loose play.  Other stand-out performances were registered by the Ilkley half backs, Nick Heron and Andy Rhodes.  Not only was Rhodes’s tactical kicking exemplary but also he varied play throughout the match to keep the visitor’s guessing.  He also scored one drop goal and kicked two penalties and three conversions, which was good going on a clammy pitch with a heavy ball.

The game began with a period of concerted Ilkley pressure in the visitor’s half which was rewarded by a drop goal from Rhodes, after stout defence.  In a rare break out into the home half from a penalty kick, Cleckheaton scored a converted try when, for the only time in the game, Ilkley were inattentive and missed their tackles.  This was the only time that Cleckheaton led.

After a line out close to the visitor’s line Matthew Newberry crashed over and with the first of his three conversions Rhodes put Ilkley ahead again.  Two minutes after the re-start Rhodes superbly broke away in open play to put Tim Barley into space to score a pulsating second try.  With the conversion Ilkley were leading 17:7.  There was more to come.  The home pack heeled against the head near the Cleckheaton line and scrum half Heron darted over for another converted try.  Then on the stroke of half time Rhodes kicked a penalty to give Ilkley a 27; 7 lead.

In the second half, Cleckheaton threatened before Rhodes kicked another penalty.  In a game now opening up, John Shanks scored a try from open play.  Just before no side went over Peter Turner in the corner as Cleckheaton fell apart.

Ilkley were able to bring on their substitutes to good effect and the entire squad could be very pleased with their individual and collective performance against opponents whose first team play in a higher league than their Ilkley counterparts.  A number of players demonstrated that could perform at a higher level for Ilkley, which is a real boon for coach Robin Kay.

You will be heartened to know that Josh Cockerham made a well-deserved first eam debut at Redcar. Great stuff, Josh!

Is this league table correct?

http://www.yorkshirerfu.co.uk/Yorkshire_Competitions/MPremier.htm

Saturday 12th January 2008

Saturday 5th January 2008

Saturday 8th December 2007

The Ilkley second fifteen continued their recovery from the Morley defeat with a stunning 24 – 12 victory at Bradford & Bingley, a North one club. Despite coming up against a mature and bigger side with a few battle hardened stalwarts who were not averse to some dubious tactics to soften up the opposition, they dug deep and came out with a win. Young Andy Cromack scored two tries in a week when he was called into the Yorkshire squad, another feather in the cap of Ilkley’s successful junior section. The “two’s” are now really finding their feet in this new tough league.

Ilkley’s second fifteen notched up a great win, the first in the higher league, in a fixture against Scunthorpe.

Debutant winger Lee Gilbank bagged a hat-trick, with Chris Weatherby and Rich Gray each scoring one to secure a 27 – 12.

Credit to Andy Draper and Dave Duxbury for getting the side motivated following their heavy defeat by Morley.

6 players came off the bench in this side brimming with young talent many of whom have come through the Ilkley Junior Section.

Related Links:
2nd XV fixtures
Senior Team Selection
3rd and 4th Team