Ilkley 10

Harrogate Georgians 17

This was what is these days billed as a 'friendly' between Ilkley's strongest 15 and Harrogate's second team. Harrogate are a National league two outfit, albeit in some difficulty there.

Ilkley are slugging it out near the top of Yorkshire league one, some 43 rungs on the league ladder below Harrogate. These first vs second XV matches should therefore be a good contest.

This one certainly was, although it never reached the levels of intensity of a league fixture. Ilkley just couldn't lift their game to previous week's high intensity, but theyfound a Harrogate side full of first XV hopefuls giving this match their all.

The game itself was interesting to watch despite the appalling weather that blighted the middle hour.

Ilkley had to soak up some impressive Harrogate pressure in the early stages and only stubborn defence held them out. A rare scrum lost inside their 22 let the Harrogate centre in for the first try. It was successfully converted for a 7-0 lead.

Then the seemingly inevitable bad injury that blights these matches occurred, Simon Smith being helped off the pitch with a knee injury. Let's hope it can be repaired ahead of this week's important trip to Wheatley Hills for a league 'four pointer'.

Ilkley now raised their game. A try followed a great take and drive by Mike Leeson to put Gus Rogers in for the score. Brendan Kelley just missed with his kick and the Dalesmen trailed by 5-7.

Lots more good Ilkley pressure went unrewarded but 'gate ended the half looking for more with Ilkley's defence once again holding the lines.

Phil Moffatt and Mike Leeson made way for Sean Gilbert and Mike Noble.

An outbreak of penaltyitis gave the Georgians the initiative and despite their best attempts to squander the chance they were lucky to get away with an off-side which saw young Ian Mackenzie, who grows in stature by the week, caught at the back of an Ilkley scrum. The ball was finally taken over by the Harrogate prop to increase the lead to 12-5.

Deadlock ensued with a midfield battle that was seemingly getting neither side anywhere near their opponents' line. But then that man Dan Nulty was lurking. Gilbert made him half an opening on the left wing. He beat two men with nothing but a couple of feet to work with on the touchline and sprinted in for a super try. That made it 10- 12.

End-to-end rugby lit up an increasingly dismal scene. It was spoiled only by last phase mistakes or needless penalties.

Leighton Parsons replaced Oliver Mantle, who had a good game against his old club and Phil Merkin came on for Stuart Vincent.

Two Fred Matthews' tackles, one following the other, demonstrated the a new steeliness in his play. The first, a big hit, left him shaking his head to rid it of stars but he was straight back to make another hit as 'gate surged forward.

Ilkley almost made it over the line having spent long spells in the 'gate 22 but then they were rocked by a late 'gate surge which saw that same prop out on the right wing with all of two feet to go to the line.

He almost fell over to put his side into a 17-10 lead.

Ilkley didn't really trouble the Harrogate line again and looked relieved to be heading for a hot shower when the referee finally blew for time.

Meantime league action continued at Yarnbury where Keighley were beaten by the bottom club and, more relevant to the Dalesmen, Old Crossleyans squeezed a narrow win over second placed Wheatley Hills. That leaves Ilkley three points off second place with the match at Wheatley Hills this weekend, kick-off 3 pm.

Hills still have to play league champions Beverley.

Even the bottom clubs have mathematical chances of catching any of the clubs at Ilkley's level or below.

It is certainly still all to play for.

One first round tie of the Yorkshire Shield was played on Saturday.

Selby seem to have opted to secure league safety as their National cup campaign took their eye off the league. They went down to league three outfit West Leeds.