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Jim McBirnie who starred in Ilkley's win (Picture: Image & Style)

Ilkley B 60 Harrogate B 5

The setbacks of early season have been put behind them and now they sit in a commendable fifth place.

This is some achievement for a team regularly playing against clubs with semi-professional players in their sides such as Wharfedale, Morley, Hull Ionians and others.

Harrogate sat equal on points with Ilkley in the league table. This victory sees the Dalesmen move into fifth place.

The team has been a great blend of youth and experience with the likes of skipper Andrew Draper, Tony Greig, BJ Fowler, Nick Bell, Brendan Kelley, Jonny Shanks and Martin Hemingway et al giving the young players the benefit of their years in the game.

The enthusiasm showed in the fact that 25 players showed up for selection on the day. It was important that some players in the first squad got game time ahead of this week's encounter at Sheffield.

The shame was that the rules of the competition only allow seven replacements and so all were not able to get a run out on this Easter Saturday.

With the first XV out of action coach Robin Kay was able to get a look at this side first hand. Without doubt all 25 would be well able to slot seamlessly into the first XV. Indeed most of them have throughout the season.

These are positive signs for the club as the senior side progresses towards a play-off place for promotion to the league above. Those disappointed not to have got game time can look forward to the home encounter with Sheffield seconds on Saturday when surely they will get a start.

The first XV travel to Abbeydale for their vital league match against once-mighty Sheffield. A win would put them within touching distance of securing second place.

Harrogate are no slouches in this league and came to Stacks Field with a strong and big side. A tricky northerly wind would make the kicking game difficult so it was the team who could keep the ball in hand that would prosper. The pitch was near perfect for running rugby.

It was the Dalesmen who laid down the marker with the first try after they had coughed up turnover ball, only to turn it back again for Jim McBirnie to dance his way through fairly hapless defending to score. Brendan Kelley has honed his kicking skills and he converted to give his side a 7-0 lead.

Harrogate came straight back and looked as though they might strike but they again lost control of the ball allowing the fleet-footed McBirnie to set Andrew Matthews for a charge.

He was stopped close in but Rhodri Jones was on his shoulder to pop a delicate pass up to Chris Weatherby for the second try and a 12-0 lead.

Then it was the Dalesmen's turn to defend but they proved better in that discipline too.

Harrogate laid siege to the home side's line with a series of penalties helping their cause. Defending has become a hallmark of all Ilkley sides' play this season and they held the visitors out.

Two more superb tries followed before the break. The first was initiated by that man McBirnie who waltzed out of defence to set up the most sublime of handling moves culminating in Jones setting Matthews up for a great try.

The second inevitably had the silky hand of McBirnie on it. Brendan Kelley led one of his trademark charges upfield. McBirnie took it on to set Simon Smith on an infield charge.

Then came two phases of ruck ball, followed by slick passing down a wide line that included Dan Wright and Jonny Shanks. Shanks had the final few metres to stroll over and score.

A 22-0 score at half-time was a great lead having played into the gale. So cold was it that the referee agreed to Harrogate's request to a five minute interval break in the changing rooms.

It was the Dalesmen who seemed to benefit from the unusual break.

Straight away the McBirnie-Matthews pivot was effective again as the dancing man ran round at least three defenders to score his second of the day, Matthews having made the break.

The next was a textbook try. A well taken line-out was driven then Andy Draper fed Andrew Rhodes whose pass found Matthews on an unstoppable run to score under the posts.

Now down 36-0, Harrogate capitulated. Tries came from Sean Gilbert, set up by Kelley's bullocking run; McBirnie after Rhodes and Bell had combined beautifully from deep; and Kelley, showing a clean pair of heels to a broken Harrogate from 60 metres out.

Finally McBirnie added another as he picked up great set ball to skip over after some stunning flowing rugby highlighted by a charge from Hemingway which was stopped just short.

The scoring proceedings were interrupted as the Dalesmen once again showed they could defend as well as attack but succumbed to a forwards' effort to put the only blemish on the day.

The final score a tremendous 60 points to 5. The large Easter Saturday crowd was mightily impressed with this slick and classy Ilkley side.

10:32am Thursday 27th March 2008

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