Bridlington 8 Ilkley 17

This game was remarkable for a number of reasons.

Most important for Ilkley was that it shed two monkeys from their backs. Firstly it got them out of the losing habit. Secondly it proved they can win away from Stacks Field.

It was also a mildly historic occasion in that it was the first ever league game they have played totally under floodlights. At 2.15pm they were well and truly required.

Ilkley had a much changed back line. Tim Rawlins having a first game at fly-half, Sean Gilbert and Nick Bell in the centres, Simon Smith and Brendan Kelley on the wings and Stuart Vincent at full-back. What an effective combination that proved to be.

Rawlins got off to a shaky start but grew in composure as the match went on and at the end was awarded Ilkley's Man-of-the-Match by the Brid club.

Bell and Gilbert bottled up midfield with some mighty tackling. Only once did the Ilkley line give way allowing Brid into an 8-3 lead with half an hour on the watch. The try came after penalties had been exchanged by Brid scrum-half Thomas and equalised Ilkley's Smith.

Ominously Martin Hemingway succumbed to the effects of a heavy cold, Fred Matthews replacing him, leaving no front row cover on the bench.

Ilkley had been under some pressure but were holding on well and were lucky to see two more penalty attempts by Thomas miss the target.

Finally they were rewarded after Ilkley had cleared a missed penalty attempt to touch. They won the line-out and rumbled well to make the ball available round the blindside to winger George Wiles who scampered past a flat-footed Ilkley defence to score out wide. Thomas' kick was again wide and Ilkley were behind 8-3.

Straight away they had the chance to reduce the arrears with a penalty but Smith's kick slid wildly adrift. Somehow this spurred the Dalesmen on and their confidence began to grow.

Tony Coughlan and Matthews really began to get to grips with the scrum, turning the Seasiders' tight eight through 90 almost at will. Coughlan also displayed his power and guile in the loose and with Nick Brook and Ed Whiteley firing on all cylinders in the engine room Ilkley began to look the better side.

A few chances came and went before the last few minutes of the half when, once again, Ilkley's line came under severe pressure. Two mistakes; a turnover and a knock on allowed Brid to lay siege for five heart-stopping minutes in which they conspired to beat themselves with poor handling and yet another missed easily kickable penalty attempt.

Half-time allowed coach Richard Midgely to work his magic. Ilkley came out with all guns blazing. The back row with Charlie Cudworth and Ian Mackenzie were buzzing, both making good yards regularly. BJ Fowler was working well with young Richard Bean who had a fine game at scrum-half. His service to Rawlins was exemplary.

Now the Dalesmen took charge. The platform was the great scrummaging effort and the fact little or nothing went awry from the line-outs. A great tackle by Smith forced a penalty. Rawlins kicked for the corner. They had a line-out just inside Brids' 22. Ilkley rumbled this time with Coughlan taking the ball fully 15 metres when Matthews came charging onto his pass to go over under the posts.

Kelley was given kicking duties and made no mistake with that one and Ilkley were ahead 10-8.

Brid were by no means out of it and they produced a number of good back moves. Occasionally they beat themselves with poor handling or bad decision making but mainly they failed to capitalise because Ilkley's defence was just too good.

As the Dalesmen's confidence grew Brid's composure slipped. On 30 minutes Ilkley again put a penalty deep into the Seasiders' 22. Again they rumbled. This time Tony Coughlan got his body into position and the Ilkley eight took him over for his first try in the colours of his new club.

Kelley did the business and Ilkley led 17-8 leaving Brid needing at least two scores to win. They had to chase the tries. Ten minutes plus injury time was excellent referee Mr Hill's call. Ten minutes of agony for the large Ilkley contingent to endure.

In fact the visitors increased their stranglehold and, whilst threatening to break out, Brid never got back near to the gallant Ilkley line. Some sensible kicking deep into their opponents' 22 whenever possible meant they were always trying to build attacks from inside their own half. That 17-8 lead remained intact and the Dalesmen were able celebrate a very happy new year.

The win gains the Dalesmen two places in the table with a match in hand. This will be played at Stacks Field this Saturday when Huddersfield YMCA are the guests.

Ilkley were disappointing when they lost in November at Huddersfield, but their confidence has taken a big boost with the win and more valuable league points are there for the taking. They have just got to train hard and well and come to the match with the right attitude.

Meanwhile Ilkley's second XV had a good win at Stacks Field against a strong Old Bodleians second team, Dan Nulty bagging two tries in a 40 point scoreline.