Huddersfield YMCA U-11s 1 Ilkley U-11s 4

Parents and team made the trip to a fog-bound Huddersfield for a triangular competition between Huddersfield YMCA and Bradford & Bingley.

Coach Kelvin Dobson couldn’t make the match, so was ably replaced by Charlie Linfield and Callum Gillon, well prepared with a very sober post-match celebration following his game the previous day with Ilkley’s First XV.

A strong-looking Bees were first up but the first half showed the results of the recent training put in by Ilkley, with strong forward moves and fast running and passing from the backs. The first half ended with a 5-0 scoreline to Ilkley, with more promised for the second half.

Despite strong resistance, the Bees were outclassed, culminating in a long run from Ilkley forward Jonny Senior for a length- of-the-pitch try, with a well-timed lay-off to Kristen Dobson, who completed a memorable try.

The forwards continued to play a very disciplined game, and their strength seemed to increase throughout the match as the tries mounted up with the Bees looking well beaten, with a final scoreline of 8-0. Samuel Linfield was voted man of the match for the first game by the cheering parents on the sidelines.

The second match against Huddersfield YMCA was more balanced but the Ilkley breakthrough was made by another strong run from Dobson to score the first try for Ilkley and end the first half.

The fog finally cleared and Ilkley turned up the pressure with three more tries and some excellent work from Callum Mellars in defence, who was voted man of the match for this second game. Huddersfield scored a deserved consolation try to end the game at 4-1 to Ilkley. Overall it was an excellent day’s rugby, with the hard work in training showing through across the Ilkley team. Competition awards went to Senior for the forwards and Dobson for the backs.