Bradford & Bingley 22 Ilkley 39

IN an amusing article in the match programme, Ilkley were described somewhat dismissively as ‘Betty's Boys' but as the final whistle blew, the only fat rascals on view were in the Bees’ back-line.

Ilkley were the more disciplined side throughout, never rising to the tough tactics employed by the struggling Wagon Lane side and the Dalesmen thoroughly deserved their ] victory that saw them remain second, but now just one point behind leaders Sheffield, who lost at Old Crossleyans.

The Ilkley pack was under pressure for most of the match, but it held its own and Ollie Renton had another outstanding game at lock. The backs were full of snap, crackle and pop, easily outclassing their hosts, who were, frankly, awful.

The Bees started well and had the Ilkley forwards in trouble right from kick-off and it came as no surprise when they were awarded a penalty after five minutes, coolly slotted by Richard Scull. Ilkley then knocked on in their own 22, but Bees were unable to take advantage.

A great run by Paul Petchey into the opposition 22 yielded a penalty, which Josh Kimber put into touch five metres out. Ilkley set up the catch and drive and when it was halted illegally, Bees’ number 8, Greg Whately saw yellow.

The resultant penalty went back to the five-metre line, but this time the ball was spun out as far as stand off Josh Kimber, who dotted down under the posts. Kimber’s conversion made it 7-3 to Ilkley.

Back into the attack came Bees and after a couple of good rucks, their stand-off Shaun Driver took a low pass off his bootlaces and dropped a goal to make it 7-6.

Then it was that man Petchey again, running out of defence and making a good 50 metres before being shoulder-charged into touch by Adam Wellington, who immediately joined Whately in the sin-bin.

Ilkley punished the offence further when another great take by Renton led to Tom Collard scampering over under the posts for try number two, duly converted by Kimber.

The home forwards took the game back to Ilkley, who defended well, but nevertheless conceded a penalty 35 metres out that Scull hooked wide.

Ilkley responded with a break from their own 22 which saw them make some 80 metres.

A sliced clearance kick into touch led to another superb Renton take in the line-out. A text-book backs’ move, saw full back Stuart Vincent coming into the line at pace before unloading to Petchey. The winger scorched over for Ilkley’s third try and Kimber’s kick made it 21-6

Scull reduced the deficit when he stroked over a penalty after Ilkley’s attempt to run the ball out of defence failed. Spurred on by this, Bees began another forward-led rush through midfield and then scored the most bizarre of tries, when everyone but the referee saw at least one knock-on before full back Adam Mitchell scooped up the ball to crash over in the corner. Ilkley’s lead had been cut to 21-14 at half-time.

Ilkley lost their own line-out for a second time and were also penalised and now it was the Bees’ turn to break out. Ilkley’s lead was cut further by another Scull penalty when Petchey was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on.

This was the Bees’ best period and with evergreen Richard Tafa finally marshalling his backs. Ilkley were on the back foot for a quarter of an hour, but their defence held.

James Crossley made a welcome return to replace JH Johnson and lock Ollie Harrison got five minutes as a blood-replacement for James Colclough.

Kimber nailed a penalty when the Bees backs strayed offside and from the kick-off, there was Petchey again, setting off on a mesmerising 50 metre run that was going to end with a try under the posts when he was tackled round the neck by the hapless Waddington, who was sent for an early shower. A penalty try was awarded, giving Ilkley a bonus point and a 31-17 lead.

The Bees' forwards were not giving up and their efforts were rewarded when Stuart Dixon took advantage with a quick penalty to score out wide, the conversion being missed.

Ilkley lost the chance to seal the win when they lost their own scrum following a knock-on close to the Bees’ line, but made amends soon afterwards.

A scrum won on the halfway line led to a neat chip over the defensive line by Kimber. The Bees’ massive winger, James Morton, shrugged off the first would be tackler, but then threw the ball behind him into no-man’s land.

First to arrive was Ilkley’s Gus Ramsey, who scooped up the ball and fed it into the grateful arms of the onrushing Petchey, who scored in the corner.

Kimber made amends for the conversion miss when he finished the day’s scoring with a penalty as the clock ran down.

This was, again, a very satisfying win. The final five matches are going to be tough, but with the calibre of this squad, they can all be won. An away win at Bradford and Bingley was always going to be hard ask, especially without James Spencer, Pete Small, Ben Magee and Will Coates, but how well their replacements played.