Ilkley 59, Ripon 13

Even the more one-eyed of Ilkley supporters - and there are a few - could not but feel some apprehension as Nick Bell led his team out at Stacks Field on Saturday.

After a severe mauling at the hands of West Park the week before, even a game against bottom of the table Ripon could not be seen as a formality.

Any such apprehension was however dispelled within 60 seconds of Ripon's kick off, as the Ilkley pack caught, set and drove to set up a third phase of play from which B-J Fowler was able to cross unopposed. Simon Smith converted to give Ilkley an unusually early 7-0 lead.

Ripon replied with gusto and a Tim Barley infringement during a drive upfield by the visitors enabled scrum-half McKara to reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty. Ilkley came under immediate pressure from the restart and only a Ripon player straying off-side saved Ilkley from further embarrassment.

At the 25 minute mark, Alan Moffat was replaced by Dave Fleming and the game was nicely balanced at 7-3.

From a line-out resulting from an Illkey penalty, Simon Smith's footwork set up a promising move, but the ball was spilled in the tackle and Ripon took the initiative, swiftly moving the ball towards the Ilkley line to force a penalty 35 yards out, which McKara put wide.

From the subsequent 22, Ilkley's forwards drifted carelessly in front of the ball and from the Ripon scrum, only a thundering tackle by Mike Leeson kept Ripon out and a swiftly mounted counter attack came to naught as Brendan Kelley knocked on.

Lock Nick Brook has added considerably to the Ilkley line-out and the throwing in was also much improved.

Ilkley's backs were also now coming more into the game and despite Simon Smith missing a penalty, the home side was able to take advantage of Ripon's open-side flanker Anderton being given ten minutes in the sin-bin.

A poor Ripon drop-out was fielded by Nick Howe, who found Sean Gilbert on hand to take the scoring pass wide on the right, but the conversion attempt was well short.

Again Ripon came back with courage but knocked on close to the Ilkley line.

The ball was fed to Kelley who crashed through four tackles before being somewhat harshly adjudged to have used his elbow in fending off the fifth.

Ripon took full advantage from the resultant penalty and prop Al Norrie rumbled over for a try which McKara duly converted to give a half-time score of 12-10.

That Ilkley apprehension had returned, but the half-time oranges obviously did the trick as Ilkley's second-half performance had poor Ripon reeling, with no fewer than seven tries scored, a solitary penalty being Ripon's only reply.

First, Phil Moffat ended a fine move from an Ilkley line with an unconverted try, then Ripon popped a penalty over, to be followed immediately by their tight head prop being given ten minutes for a line-out infringement.

Ilkley immediately took advantage, Gus Rogers emerging beaming from a pile of bodies after a rolling maul.

Simon Smith found his touch again, chipping over the conversion to put his side 24-13 ahead.

As the match entered the last quarter, Ilkley still looked a tad nervous, but the Ripon defence was clearly creaking with a man off, so it was no surprise when from 40 yards out, Tim Barley fed Nick Howe on the blind side to secure his first try of the day.

The conversion made the score 31-13 and at last, Ilkley looked confident.

This confidence was well-placed as Ilkley's blistering strike force ran in a further four tries, all converted by Simon Smith, the Johnny Wilkinson of the second-half.

First, B-J Fowler emerged from a ruck and walked unaided under the posts, then Nulty's fresh legs skinned the opposition backs, followed in smart order by two gems from Nick Howe, completing his hat-trick.

The final score was 59-13, courtesy of some stunning back play.

So far this season, Ilkley have been at their best when those backs have been provided with possession and at their worst when trying to mix it with forwards of the quality of West Park.

Possession does not come easily though and it is a credit to the efforts made by the coaching staff and of course the forwards themselves, that Ilkley have returned to winning ways.

l On Saturday Ilkley face a trip to Bradford Salem hoping to avenge their one point defeat of three weeks ago.

Apprehensions ? What apprehensions ?