Percy Park 8 Ilkley 28

ILKLEY proved they really do have a head for heights as they systematically put second-placed Percy Park to the sword.

It wasn’t without fierce resistance and several close calls but, in the final reckoning, the Dalesmen proved an irresistible driving force to leapfrog their opponents.

Percy Park, who were aggrieved when the the original fixture was postponed shortly before kick-off because of icy conditions, found the heat was on them from the start.

Ilkley scored in the opening minutes when JH Johnson cut in from the wing at great pace to force his way through a crowd of Park players and score a try which Josh Kimber converted.

The hosts, whose early-season momentum has been checked by three defeats in four matches, seemed deflated by the score and their attempts to put Ilkley under pressure were hampered by handling errors and the concession of penalties.

Ilkley extended their lead after 15 minutes when a high kick by Kimber forced a knock-on. They worked their way through the phases and eventually scrum half Tom Collard sent centre Alastair Monks racing through the stretched defence for a try which Kimber again converted.

The challenge for the Dalesmen was how to maintain such a tempo. Initially the Dalesmen looked to go further ahead, with Ben Magee, Johnson and Paul Petchey all probing from deep.

An Ilkley scrum was lost against the head, a rarity these days, and it gave Park a boost. Ilkley’s defence was seriously tested as the home side stepped up the pressure.

They looked set to score tries on a couple of occasions but the magnificent Ilkley defence held firm.

Ilkley’s composure looked flaky at the start of the second half as their line-outs, scrums and tackling all came under severe pressure.

However, last-ditch defence forced errors and Park were unable to cross the whitewash. A penalty goal to reduce the arrears to 14-3 was their only reward, Toby Davidson being the kicker.

Big Steven Burns took to the field for Ilkley to replace gritty veteran Jon Hutchinson, who was in turn later recalled when the superb James Colclough succumbed to a head injury. He will be a concern for Morgan this week.

Gradually sanity was restored and the Dalesmen broke out.

Kimber, whose kicking was exemplary, launched a huge high bomb towards Park’s ten-metre line.

Magee kept his eyes on it and, as he raced under its trajectory, only one person was going to catch it. He took it at pace, stepped on the gas and outpaced three defenders, whose first instinct must have been to applaud a truly sublime piece of rugby worthy of anything you will see at the highest level.

Park were 21-3 down with 25 minutes to go but were by no means out of it.

Another ragged period from the Dalesmen allowed them renewed hope.

However, that fabulous defence and some outstanding tackles – one from Monks being the pick of the bunch – and a great line-out steal by Pete Small, aided and abetted by a smattering of Park errors, kept the Geordies at bay.

Ilkley’s line was finally breached from a Park scrum on the 22. The ball was sent out with aplomb and centre Ethan Wilson hit the line at speed to score a fine try. However, an erratic attempt to drop-kick the conversion flopped.

The final minutes saw the Dalesmen take the game back to Park. A ball was won 30 metres out and Kimber found Petchey, who cut inside, jigging and jinking his way over for a blistering try under the posts.

Kimber obliged with the conversion and, despite a few more frustrated forays by Park, the Dalesmen came out worthy victors.