Ilkley's mixed side is stung by the in form Bees

Ilkley 17

This New Year's Eve fixture with neighbours Bradford and Bingley gave all the players who took part a chance to blow off the Christmas cobwebs and run off a bit of the turkey and stuffing.

The Dalesmen had not played since December 10, the home fixture with Huddersfield YMCA having succumbed to the frost, so this run out was a welcome return to active service.

The game at Bees set off at a cracking pace.

The Ilkley side was a mix of first and second teamers which gave the coaching team a chance to look at some of the first team hopefuls more cosley.

They certainly laid down their markers. Ilkley raced into a 10-0 lead only to have that whittled down to a deficit of 17-19 at half-time.

Lots of changes were made which disrupted the continuity and the strong Bees XV featuring eight players who will travel with the first XV squad to Blaydon for their North One fixture this weekend, put five tries past the Dalesmen without reply in the second period. Mackenzie, Smith and Gilbert scored the tries for Ilkley.

Meanwhile the 80 tonnes of fine drainage sand sand was applied to the two pitches at Stacks Field and fingers are tightly crossed that the remainder of the winter is not too wet.

Any substantial rainfall would further damage the back pitch although the first XV pitch tends to recover far better.

The New Year brings new challenges. Ilkley's main task is getting themselves out of the lower part of Yorkshire League One table.

The match in hand to be played on the 14th is a vital game.

First they must get the Bridlington trip out of the way. Having beaten Brid 24 -20 in an exciting encounter earlier in the season the points are there for the taking.

The YMCA game has been reorganised for Saturday, January 14.