Bradford Salem 16, Ilkley A 35

Ilkley's second string featuring a few senior squad players who were qualified for the Sulzer Aire-Wharfe Cup brushed aside a determined Bradford Salem first team after allowing them to come back into the game in the third quarter.

A virtuoso kicking display by young Nick Greenbank who bagged 12 points, a powerful scrummaging effort from the pack and some great lines of running from the backs combined with a piece of sheer good fortune saw the Dalesmen successfully through to the semi finals of this absorbing end of season cup competition.

After Greenbank's opening two penalty kicks Dalton put Salem ahead with a scrambled try. Mackenzie grabbed Ilkley's first try with a great pick up and charge close in.

Number two was an opportunist try by Andy Hinchliffe who hacked through and followed up from 40 metres. A penalty by veteran Dalton on the stroke of half-time made it 10-18.

Ilkley lost their cohesion for the first 20 minutes of the second period and Dalton kicks got Salem back to 16-18. Determined defence prevented further Salem scores.

The next was a great try set up from a solid Ilkley scrum which set up a superb passage of back play in which Hinchliffe was twice involved. His pass enabled Greenbank to make vital metres and put Chris Weatherby in tight in the corner. Greenbank improved this with a superb touchline kick.

Then came the bit of fortune or was Duxbury intuitive magic? As Salem pressed Ilkley hard to get back into the game inspirational skipper Dave Duxbury was in trouble behind his lines.

He beat off four tacklers before getting his prodigious boot to the ball and as the bounce eluded the Salem defender on half way rampant Aussie Dave Fleming charged up to juggle with the ball basketball style for a full fifteen metres before powering over for try number four.

Greenbank added the conversion and another penalty to put Ilkley comfortably through at 16-35.

This is a not inconsiderable achievement considering Salem are favourites for the second place promotion slot in league three and ensures that the whole of Ilkley Rugby club ends the season in high spirits.

This Ilkley second team has achieved exceptional things this season. Much credit for this must go to the skipper Dave Duxbury.