THE threat of relegation from Yorkshire Division Two is looming larger after Ilkley slid to another defeat.

The result puts added pressure on them for Saturday's home game with fellow strugglers Pocklington at Stacks Field (3pm).

Ilkley imply cannot afford another slip up after allowing a great chance of victory slip from their grasp against Heath.

The fact that Ilkley were on top for much of the match will not ease the pain of defeat.

Having lost skipper and goalkicker Anthony Cadman to a mystery illness their cause wasn't helped by the absence of Charlie Cudworth and scrum half Tim Barley who were both skiing and Nick Brook who was recovering from concussion.

Veteran second team captain David Duxbury was at fly half, Alan Moffat and young Ian Mackenzie in the back row and Ollie Coughlan at scrum half.

There was, however an air of optimism as Heath's form had dipped recently.

With Stacks Field in pristine condition and the weather perfect for rugby a heavy shower greeted the two teams onto the field.

Referee Mr Goldcup had previously been a good omen as he had officiated in the Dalesmen's narrow win at Skipton.

Starting a game like this without a recognised goal kicker was a disadvantage which was ultimately to prove crucial.

Sean Gilbert had two penalty kicks go wide from eminently kickable positions. They were crucial misses but so too were the weak attempted tackles which resulted in the game's only try.

Drane threw an outrageous dummy as he took a good ball just outside the Dalesmen's 22. He looked to pass before cutting inside three tacklers before creating the opening for winger Pullan to score.

Ilkley had started the livelier of the sides. Coughlan broke well and made sixty metres before putting Gilbert away down the right. He was just stopped on the 22 when a score looked on.

Nesbit was also bundled into touch after a good break inside from Duxbury. With a free ball to use Duxbury opted for a drop goal attempt which came off the upright. Gilbert was then unsuccessful with the penalty.

Nick Bell suffered a head injury and went off for patching up. Ben Macdonald replaced him and was immediately in the action stopping a Heath attack which resulted in a penalty to the Halifax side.

Their full back Piper put the goal away to give his side a three point lead. That was followed by the Drane manufactured try after 20 and Ilkley were on the back foot, 8-0 down.

Bell, who had returned with his heaheavily bandaged, then had to leave the field again after colliding heavily with Phil Merkin as they both tackled centre Gillespie in their usual uncompromising way. Ilkley's scrum was solid all match and began to get the upper hand as half time neared.

Good scrummage pressure earned the Dalesmen another kick at goal, this time dead in front of the posts and 30 metres out. The kick again went agonisingly wide.

A good start to the second period was essential and the forwards duly obliged with a well worked rumble from a line after Merkin had broken well and won a penalty.

On any other day they would have kicked at goal. Duxbury opted for the touch kick. The doughty Rodgers, who worked tirelessly throughout, was the try scorer.

As Heath made one of their rare forays into Ilkley territory they won a scrum on the 22. Ilkley were unlucky to be adjudged offside. Piper landed the penalty for an 11-5 lead.

Ilkley were now fighting for their league lives and it showed but a third Piper penalty was a bitter blow.

Nesbit returned to the score sheet with a well-taken try but the conversion from a good position was struck wide,

At 14-10 Ilkley fancied their chances but Heath delivered the hammer blow as winger Pullan scored his second try.

In a frenetic last five minutes Ilkley finally got Nulty into space. He had the pace to step out of two tackles to go in under the posts.

With the last act of a pulsating but frustrating match Nesbit dropped Ilkley's only goal to put his side two points away from what could and should have been an important win.

However the records will show another loss by less than one score.

Only true grit and determination can now save the Dalesmen from the spectre of Yorkshire Three, but when the season is appraised they will rue those vital missed kicks.

This isn't the first time it has cost them dearly.

Their only crumb of comfort on Saturday was the fact that all the bottom placed teams lost so league positions remain unchanged.

The opportunity to close in on fourth from bottom Leodiensians has gone for another week.

It means that the pressure is mounting and time is running our for Ilkley to haul themselves away from the danger zone and preserve their place in Yorkshire Two for another season.

They cannot afford any more narrow defeats in matches they should win.