Bolton School for Boys 17 Ilkley Grammar School 19

ILKLEY Grammar School have reached the regional semi-finals of the NatWest Vase for the first time.

They produced a fine performance to seal their place on a cold and wet day at Bolton.

But they had to survive a nail-biting finish which saw the home side hit back from 19-5 down in the final three minutes after James Hall was harshly sin-binned.

They scored two tries and missed a last-gasp conversion which would have tied the scores.

Stand-off George Pickersgill missed an early penalty for Ilkley before Bolton went ahead with an unconverted try by their outside centre.

This acted as a wake-up call to Ilkley. A strong scrum, marshalled by Will Rice-Birchall, allowed winger Harry Brow space in a threatening area, leading to a teasing kick over the top of the Lancastrian back line.

The bounce tricked the full back, enabling George Pickersgill to fly hack the ball twice before gathering under a tackle and popping it into the grateful arms of the unstoppable Sam Hill, who crashed over the line.

Ilkley’s set piece and defensive prowess would prove to be the key to success.

The line-out, controlled by Hall’s throwing and Ben Pickersgill’s jumping, took Ilkley to within five metres of Bolton’s line.

Scrum half Joe Hawdon’s pass instigated a move from Ilkley’s backs, finished by Brow. George Pickersgill added the conversion.

The scrum was relentless, destroying all in its wake to create space for George Pickersgill who once again orchestrated a try with his pin-point kicking.

The ball’s flight carried it into the right corner where centre Matt Postlethwaite collected it, beat the full back and scored in the corner. George Pickersgill landed the conversion.

At 19-5 with ten minutes to go, there seemed no way back for Bolton, but Ilkley had to defend for their lives before victory was secured.