Ilkley A 21, Wharfedale B 12

Andy Hinchliffe, Ilkley's battering ram centre, bagged two tries and laid on a third for Charlie Cudworth to put Ilkley into the Aire-Wharfe Cup final for the first time since 1985.

Christopher Hems, Ilkley's stalwart back rower, was in the final those 18 years ago.

No less enthusiastic now than he was then, he played a major part in keeping his side's hopes alive when Wharfedale's youthful and talented side put Ilkley under the cosh in the third quarter of this absorbing and exciting semi-final.

Wharfedale fielded what was essentially their development side enhanced by one or two older and more robust individuals. At least two of them would not have been born when Hems made his last final appearance!

Ilkley took the game by the scruff of the neck in the first-half and were 7-0 up after only six minutes when young Nick Greenbank was hauled down close to set the ball up for Ollie Coughlan to feed skipper Dave Duxbury who had Hinchliffe charging in on a great line to burst through and score. Greenbank improved the score.

Ilkley dominated this half and but for some poor passing and equally poor ball retention, could have had the match sewn up much sooner.

These young Wharfedale lads were not for lying down and they fought back courageously and tackled everything that Ilkley could throw at them.

Andrew Peel was yellow carded five minutes before half-time after an unnecessary retaliation. His considerable presence in the back row was missed and on the stroke of 40 minutes Coughlan put the rampant Hinchliffe in for his second, which Greenbank also improved. It was 14-0 at half-time and looking strong, Ilkley should have been secure.

The young Green machine came back with a vengeance. Brendan Kelley brought of a great tackle to stop one attack. Hems held up what seemed like six Wharfedale forwards to stop another under the posts.

His ball stealing ability frustrated at least three other promising attacking moves.

Cudworth and young Ian Mackenzie were required to show all their defensive repertoire as Wharfedale tried to bring their centres into the game.

Then, just for a while, the normally unflappable kicking game utilised by Duxbury evaporated. Kicks were charged down by an exuberant green back row, others missed touch.

Coincidentally with this temporary lapse, Coughlan seemed to lose his concentration and Wharfedale were in the ascendancy.

As if to make matters worse an outbreak of missed tackles overcame the Ilkley defensive lines, which till then had been so solid.

First young Ashley Caton skimmed over for a converted try to halve the deficit.

Then the Dalesmen made a brief recovery putting the greens on the back foot as Duxbury's boot started working again.

But they were not subdued and back they came with a sweeping move across the field and back inside to give James Hutchinson the chance to break through some sloppy Ilkley tackles and score out wide to make it 14-12.

Now the tension was rising. The large crowd egged their side on and gradually Ilkley took the sting out of Wharfedale's tail.

A scrum was well won. Ilkley's front row had won this area of the contest from the start. The now refocused Coughlan fed Duxbury. Duxbury saw the charging Hinchliffe who got to within a metre before laying off to Cudworth who forced his way over under the posts to make it 21-12 and earn his side a well deserved place in the final.

Wharfedale had counted on youthful talent to see them through but they had not reckoned with Ilkley's gritty and determined side, which is a wonderful blend of experience and bright young prospects for the future.

This victory tops an already great season for Duxbury's side.

They have won the second team league championship by a street.

Now they have a Cup Final to put the icing on the cake.

The final was against Otley Tongans at Stack's Field last night, Wednesday.