Ilkley 26 Otley Tongans 25

The annual match between Ilkley and Otley is played for the Tim Bucknall Trophy. The first few games, almost 20 years ago were contested by the clubs' first XVs. In this game Ilkley's senior team were up against Otley's third XV. That is a vivid illustration of the effect of league and professional rugby on the two clubs.

Ilkley's relative league status has not altered, whilst the Tongans are Otley's senior truly amateur side. As such, the teams were well matched and indeed, they laid on a feast of good, exciting rugby for the sizeable post Christmas crowd. Ex-Ilkley star Johnny Burke was the only first team squad player in the Otley side. His former team-mate Simon Smith made a welcome return to Ilkley colours following his mid-week signing from Otley after a number of year's sterling service.

The game opened at a fierce pace with Otley looking dangerous. With a testing kick into the Ilkley 22 they were poised to score the opener. However young Ollie Coughlan was not intimidated, he took the high ball, called for the mark and was away up the left sensing that Dan Nulty was lurking out wide. The ball was coolly delivered and those heels were soon round the defence and clean away for a great try under the posts. Cadman converted to give Ilkley the ideal start with a 7-0 lead.

A further three points were added when Simon Smith showed his first flash only to be felled by Burke. However illegal use of hands on the ground conceded the penalty.

Otley then struck back in a superb succession of phases. Ilkley defended well but fell foul of the inevitable indiscretion. A line-out was followed by a penalty for offside and Burke showed all his experience in bulldozing over for a try which the cool Foster converted to make it 10-7.

Then Ilkley edged further in front with two penalties following good work by first the forwards to create the opportunities for Andy Hinchliffe and Smith to force the Otley defenders into misdeamours.

Ilkley then had to soak up pressure as the Tongans responded. First there was a brief outbreak of non-tackling which allowed Otley to storm into the Ilkley 22. A penalty took them to five metres out and Ilkley fell victim to a well-executed rumble to take the score to 16-12.

With ten minutes to go to the interval both sides came close but the odd mistake prevented further scores. A bone crunching tackle by Smith on his opposite number and a courageous run out of trouble by Sean Gilbert, and another great charge by Burke at the tenacious Ilkley defence were notable features.

Half-time saw coach Midgeley urging his charges to give 110per cent and to bring Christopher Hems off for the younger Ross Knight. Straight away Ilkley were caught cold and gave away a penalty which Foster stroked home to reduce the deficit to one point.

Phil Moffatt then produced some of the powerful running that has been a feature of his game in the seconds. He set Coughlan up who again saw Nulty available. Nulty chased Coughlan's kick and looked to be impeded five metres out. He picked up but the ball was knocked out of his grasp. The referee ruled scrum to Otley.

Ilkley then enjoyed a good period with Moffatt working the ball out wide to Gilbert and then Smith. From the line Ilkley were rewarded with another penalty which Cadman surprisingly put wide. A drop goal attempt suffered the same fate.

As if spurred on by these let-offs Otley surged back. This time it was Ilkley who were forced into giving penalties away. Gilbert put in one great tackle on the Otley wing Craig Jackson, but from the line the ball was sent first out left and then back out wide right. With the Ilkley defence sucked in, the speedy Jackson took his chance well to give the Tongans a 20-16 advantage.

Mike Noble replaced young Fred Matthews who had another useful afternoon in his learning process. The Ilkley front five had a difficult time in the set scrums but stuck at it well. Phil Moffatt was now replaced by the rejuvenated Justin Hewitt.

Otley now took the game by the throat and increased their lead with another try, this time form a well-won ruck, the ball was whipped out to the wing then back inside for full-back Andy Edson to come charging into the line at fiercesome pace to score out wide.

At 16-25 Ilkley looked out of it. But this Ilkley side does not lie down and back they came. Smith attacked down the right, set the ball up beautifully for Coughlan to feed Cadman who sent a long ball raking out behind Nulty. He went back, recovered, jinked and shimmied past the Tongans' defenders who looked with amazement as he crossed for the try. It was 21-25 and all to play for. Burke then left the field to be replaced by old Ilkley warhorse Grant Mitchell. He immediately set about making his considerable presence felt.

Frantic IIkley defence was matched by frenetic Otley attacks. Cadman relieved one siege with a hack at a loose ball, Hewitt another with a booming kick into no-man's land which Nulty chased and secured with yet another jinking run and kick for touch into the Otley 22. From the line-out Ilkley attacked again only for Mitchell to be reprimanded and yellow-carded.

Ilkley were rewarded with a penalty which was taken quickly and then spilled five metres out. Otley cleared from the scrum and seemed to have saved the day. With play back in Ilkley's half the ball was worked back by Knight to set up an attack down the right. Suddenly Gilbert had two men to beat. He rounded one and cut inside Edson to score the final try in a pulsating game. With Ilkley a point in front and only injury time to go a little composure was called for. But that's not the way in this game, and the Ilkley supporters had to suffer two more penalty attempts, both eminently kickable, by the apparently unflappable Foster. A giant sigh of relief went up when both kicks obligingly sailed wide. Ilkley had shaded it by the odd point in 51.

This was indeed an excellent contest fought out with intensity but great sportsmanship. It is occasionally pleasant to reflect and remember what rugby used to be like pre-leagues. The atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards was to be savoured with supporters and players from both clubs enjoying the festive occasion in genuine friendship.

l On Saturday Ilkley are back in league action at West Leeds, a side they beat 18-6 at Stacks field in November. With Ilkley lying dangerously close to the relegation zone this is a very important league game.