Morley 24 Ilkley 26

WHEN Ilkley last played Morley in a first team fixture, Slade were in their pomp and the country was enjoying a three-day working week.

The Maroons were a fearsome force back then and anyone fortunate enough to return home in one piece from Scatcherd Lane knew they had been in a game.

This was a match of two skippers. Morley’s Mark Chester, playing at ten, masterminded his side’s attack and scored two sparkling tries, but his kicking was erratic, missing two conversions and a penalty. Still, a personal haul of 14 points is a creditable achievement.

On the other hand, Ilkley’s Joe Rowntree gave a master-class in place kicking, converting both his side’s tries along with four penalties and it was this 16 point tally that proved the difference between the sides, as the Dalesmen held on to win.

Morley tore into their visitors from the kick-off, which Ilkley had dealt badly with and within the first five minutes had earned two penalties, the second of which saw Chester’s first miss of the day.

Ilkley’s defence was immediately called upon again and it was sad to see centre Chris Gemmell having to leave the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder. On came Kirk Arundale at scrum-half with Rowntree moving to full back.

The disruption favoured Morley and the first points of the day were scored when Chester’s pin-point cross-kick was well fielded by left wing Tom Clough to touch down in the corner. The conversion was well wide, but the Maroons were 5-0 up.

But not for long. As Ilkley settled down, the first of several powerful scrums served notice to their opponents that this would be where the match would be won. A second such scrum resulted in a penalty to Ilkley and Rowntree reduced the lead to 5-3.

Both sides were playing enterprising rugby, with Morley having the edge in possession terms, but Ilkley’s defence held firm. When they countered, a succession of scrums close to Morley’s goal line eventually led to a penalty try and a yellow card for Morley flanker Luke Watts.

Rowntree’s conversion put his side into the lead at 10-5 and this was a lead that was not to be lost.

Shortly before half-time, a clean break by Ilkley’s Pat Power set up a ruck at which Morley were penalised for offside 15metres out and it was 13-5 as the teams sought refuge in the depths of the cavernous stand.

With their confidence notably higher, Ilkley started the second half well. Ben Magee fielded a Chester kick and set up a move in the Ilkley backs. An injudicious high-tackle by Morley’s big centre, James Davies, earned another, somewhat harsh, yellow card and for a minute, Morley were down to 13 men.

Ilkley made them pay. The penalty was kicked to touch and a great catch at the back of the line-out by the outstanding Ollie Holtam set up the move that saw Arundale scamper over on the right wing. An imperious kick from Rowntree and gave Ilkley a 20-5 lead.

Game over ? Not a bit of it. A poor Ilkley clearance was fielded by Clough and his run set up a series of phases in the Ilkley 22.

Eventually, the visitors ran out of defenders and prop Ben Bell crashed over on the left wing. This time, Chester made no mistake.

Ilkley’s lead was increased when another Morley scrum was destroyed. Their pack was penalised and the ball was given to Rowntree who made no mistake.

With the Maroons back to full strength, some poor kicking out of hand from both sides saw possession ping-pong from one end of the field to the other.

The pressure was really growing on Ilkley and they were somewhat fortunate not to see yellow when a Morley catch and drive was halted in suspicious circumstances.

The home side were rewarded when Chester skipped over after two good off-loads from Davies and his conversion narrowed the gap to 23-19.

Ilkley responded well and when their scrum earned yet another penalty just in their opponent’s half, up stepped you know who and it was 26-19.

With just a few minutes remaining, the Dalesmen knew that they were in for an uncomfortable time and so it proved, with another set of well-played phases leading to another Chester try in the corner. A successful kick and the scores would be tied. Several pins were heard to drop as Chester lined up his kick, followed by a collective groan as the ball sailed wide of the mark.

Ilkley’s defence was good enough for the final two minutes and that was it, the season back on track with a fine win to savour.

So, Ilkley repeated what they did last year, when they lost heavily at home, only to surprise Lymm away the following week.

The Ilkley pack was outstanding and Morley simply couldn’t cope with them, so despite losing the try-count 4-2 Ilkley’s win was thoroughly deserved, a great team effort.

Next up for Ilkley is Hull at Stacks Field. The Humberside men have won both their opening matches, including against Billingham who defeated the Dalesmen in their first game, so it will be no easy task for Rhys Morgan’s men. On this form though, Ilkley could well dig out a win.