Ilkley 92

THORNENSIANS 0

Looking for their fifth league win Ilkley put together their best performance of the season with a rout of bottom of the table Thornensians. In all they scored a massive 15 tries. This is the highest score achieved by an Ilkley first team in it's 100 years history.

The match started rather uneventfully with both sides making tentative moves against each others defences. Ten minutes into the game from a controlled line-out Ilkley's back row linked very well with the backs to release centre Phil Merkin.

A good break and pass gave winger Brendan Kelly space to over in the corner for the first of his four tries. This was not converted.

. A well taken penalty by winger Ben McDonald increased the score to 8-0 but at this stage there was no real evidence of what was to come.

Ilkley continued to attack but in a ten minute period could not add to their score. The deadlock was then broken with centre Phil Merkin going over in the corner for a well taken unconverted try which made the score 13-0.

This seemed to break Thornensians resolve and in the last 15 minutes of the half Ilkley scored four more tries, two of which were converted. The scorers were B J Fowler, Chris Easton, Chris Hems and Brendan Kelly and their efforts made the half- time score 37-0.

The second-half was a procession with Ilkley scoring a further nine tries. The scorers were Brendan Kelly (2), Ian Moffat, B J Fowler, Chris Hems, Dave Duxbury, Ben McDonald, Chris Easton and Phil Mitchell.

Five were converted to make the final score 92-0.

Due to an injury to Thornensians front row player Will Grix with five minutes to go scrums were non contested. In these final few minutes Ilkley added ten points to their total but the score of 85-0 was allowed for the league.

After this match it was good to see the delight on the Ilkley players' faces in the clubhouse. What a good win can do, but commiseration's to Thornensians.

Ilkley now have a week's rest and then take on old rivals Castleford in the league on March 11, away from home.

Ilkley.......................10

Modernians.............13

ILKLEY thirds were hosts to a strong Old Modernians Second XV and the game turned out to be hard fought with the result in doubt right up to the final minutes.

The first-half saw territorial advantage shared but the visitors were able to snatch two tries with Ilkley responding on half-time with a penalty goal by stand-off Adrian Cowgill.

Ilkley kept up the pressure during the second-half but were denied points on several occasions by a stout defence. Old Mods stretched their lead with a penalty goal but Ilkley came right back into the game with a superlative try from winger Chris Little who raced practically the whole length of the field shaking off several tackles to go in under the posts, Cowgill adding the extra points.

The game ended with Ilkley trying desperately to swing it their way.

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