Driffield 22 Ilkley 27

AFTER this pulsating match at Kelleythorpe and the very welcome news from North Shields, where Percy Park snatched a late penalty to beat Sheffield, Ilkley moved three points clear at the top of the table and their North One East title fate now lies in their own hands.

The maths mean that the Dalesmen need to win their final league match at home to Pocklington to ensure back to back Championships and a place in the National Leagues for the first time ever.

Driffield proved to be generous hosts, both off and on the field and they too were anxious to put points on the board to stave off the very real threat of relegation.

In the event, they got a well-deserved losing bonus point from this match and then heard the news that Bradford and Bingley had lost at home making it a good day for both teams

A strong wind did its best to spoil a keenly-contested match – kicks stalled in mid-air, accurate passing proved difficult and the kick-offs caused no end of problems for both sides.

A bullocking run from Stevie Graham soon set Ilkley on the attack. His popped pass found Josh Kimber who scythed through the cover tackles and found James Crossley on the left wing who finished well to give his side a 5-0 lead.

Ilkley extended their lead when scrum-half Tom Collard stole Driffield’s ball at a scrum and set up a move involving Kimber and Tom Baxter which brought a try for centre Steve Nolson.

Driffield hit back strongly and only a superb tackle by Nick Carolan saved the day for Ilkley.

The home side were on a roll and when Ilkley opted for a scrum, instead of a touch kick, they were caught in possession and scrum-half Josh Holman went in for a try under the posts which was converted by Robin Kitching.

Ilkley were rattled and they fell behind when two missed tackles allowed winger Sam Furbank in for a try which Kitching again converted.

A penalty by Kitching extended the lead to 17-12 shortly before the break, leaving Ilkley with plenty to do to keep the title dream alive.

The second half started in remarkable fashion as Kimber’s kick-off hung in the breeze and the Driffield defence was inert, allowing the ball to bounce and roll backwards to their goal-line.

First to pounce was Paul Petchey, whose delicate chip through bounced into his hands enabling him to score an even faster try than that registered in the corresponding fixture two years ago – that was 42 seconds – this was 30. Kimber's conversion edged Ilkley ahead.

A Kimber penalty followed shortly afterwards when an Ilkley drive was halted illegally extended the lead to 22-17, but Driffield were far from a spent force.

Ilkley were forced to defend as if their lives depended on it. JH Johnson was forced to make a saving tackle after Collard's clearing kick was charged down.

With Ben Magee on for skipper Stuart Vincent, fireworks were expected and sure enough, an excellent break out of their own half by the Ilkley backs saw the Yorkshire Under-20’s winger launched on a powerful run. Unfortunately, an inside pass chance to Petchey was ignored and the cover defence won the battle to prevent the try.

Magee did make his mark on the game when the forwards won a line-out and the ball was moved along the line to Magee who finished in style to earn the bonus point.

Both sides had tackled their hearts out, but a game home-side came back strongly from the kick-off and capitalised on some tired defence with full back Danny Smith scoring Driffield's third try.

Four minutes of injury time did little to calm Ilkley nerves, but the whistle came just after Petchey had stolen a Driffield ball to set up a ruck that the Ilkley pack won. The ball found its way onto touch and that was it. The relief in the Ilkley camp was palpable and the relief morphed into joy as the Sheffield result came through.