Ilkley 24

Huddersfield YMCA 31

This would surely be Ilkley's toughest assignment of the season. Huddersfield YMCA were already promoted and certain of the league championship. Ilkley's fortunes have taken a downturn in recent weeks, and from being promotion challengers not six weeks ago they were now mathematically in danger of relegation.

Such are the machinations of the league system that up to five clubs could go down from this toughest of tough leagues. The large and boisterous Ilkley crowd had their fingers crossed for another fine display to match the performance against Dinnington back in February.

The weather was perfect, the pitch bone hard. The attitude of John Atkinson's side had to be uncompromising to shade this one.

Ilkley, in their change strip, got off to the worst possible start. From the kick-off young Olly Coughlan, making his home debut in place of Chris Pring, was not adequately protected as he gathered the kick.

The ball was lost. 'Y' pounced and mounted an attack through their strong pack to put hooker Mellor in for an easy try. YMCA took the ball off the front of their line and a further try was added by skipper Toomes. It was 12-0 and only six minutes into the game. The crowd was beginning to fear the worst.

YMCA were working the ball well off the back of their set pieces and setting up great second, third and fourth phase ball. They looked a slick outfit both close in and out wide where winger Derose was proving very hard to stop.

Then after what seemed like an eternity Ilkley showed signs of life. Ian Moffatt broke through to put Brendan Kelly away. The final pass went to ground and YMCA recovered courtesy of two penalties. Robust retaliation from YMCA skipper and towering lock Toomes saw a penalty reversed, Toomes was yellow carded. Now Ilkley had a numeric advantage, indeed Toomes has the presence of two men!

The YMCA 22 drop out was missed by the whole Ilkley pack giving Derose the chance to break out and set up a great move. This was foiled only by Ben McDonald's superb last-ditch tackle. Still Ilkley were under pressure.

Eddie Jones got his legs pumping and made good ground only to be robbed close in. Another Ilkley attack failed only metres out with a knock on. Yet another failed with a poor final pass. On other occasions these would have been put away, but today the gods were not with Ilkley.

Then YMCA were back on the offensive. That man Derose again, but he was well tackled by the brave Nick Bell. Ilkley won the penalty, missed touch only for Nesbitt to take the response with a good mark. A dab into touch was all that was required, but the hooker went for glory and missed his touch completely to give Derose another chance to run at the Ilkley defence. He set up Toomes, now back on the field, to score in the corner and take the YMCA lead to 17-0.

Ilkley then picked themselves up again. Pressure on the YMCA line was squandered when a penalty was reversed. So frustrating for the Ilkley supporters these unnecessary lapses of concentration can be.

YMCA flanker Throssell then made an uncharacteristic error which gifted Anthony Cadman the ball, like quicksilver he saw space and grub kicked into it, picked up his own kick, fed the ever hungry Charlie Cudworth who got the ball away to Phil Merkin. Merkin, looking refreshed from his second XV appearances, showed a clean pair of heals to the YMCA defence to go in under the posts. Ilkley were at last on the scoreboard .

A knock on went straight to YMCA flanker Crossley who picked up and out-sprinted every Ilkley player to go in for their fourth try to make the half time sore 7- 24.

The second half began as the first had finished. That man Derose was in again, but he knocked on over the line. Another couple of Huddersfield forays went close, and then it was all change.

Ilkley suddenly found belief and commitment. Toomes took an early bath and another yellow saw Ilkley playing 13 men. The advantage soon showed as Ilkley pressed through Moffatt and Cadman. It was all Ilkley now. A great try was manufactured by the pack who set up a cross-field move through the backs. Brendan Kelly fed the rampant Phil Merkin who galloped in under the posts to put Ilkley back in touch at 24-14.

The elusive score finally came when Nick Bell was put clear by Cadman. He powered over to score under the posts and put his side just three points away at 24- 21.

Ilkley were defending a fierce Huddersfield attack. Three times they were penalised for offside. The fourth was trying his patience just that bit too much. A penalty try put YMCA 31-24 ahead.

l The last league game is at Northallerton.