Ilkley 67 Hullensians 13

A week off from league rugby gave this improving Ilkley side another opportunity to show what they’re made of against comparatively lowly opposition.

The Yorkshire Shield, a trophy once worth winning for the right to enter the Yorkshire Cup, is now the key to the Pandora’s box of a route to Twicken- ham in the National Intermediate Cup.

Arriving an hour late meant the Hullensians players had to get kitted up in record time, though the relaxed atmosphere of knockout rugby enabled referee Chris Lunn and the Ilkley officials to agree to a 2.30pm kick off.

With all these disadvantages, it came as some surprise that the visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck and starved Ilkley of possession for what seemed to be a very long time.

They even hadg the audacity of going 3-0 up with a well-struck Tom McCarthy penalty after eight minutes.

But that was it really for the visitors. Whilst they played their hearts out and scored two good tries, the power of the home pack coupled with the slickness of the backs saw the Dalesmen progress to the quarter finals with a ten-try scoring spree which confirmed the difference in class between Yorkshire One and Two.

Stand-off Josh Kimber scored a try and kicked seven conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of 22 points and live-wire scrum-half Ryan Cooper posted a hat-trick of tries.

Ilkley’s other tries came from Andy Malley, Steve Nolson, Stuart Brewer, Tom Collard, Paul Petchey and the returning Alastair Monks. The fact that the scoring was so spread about the side speaks volumes for the strength of the squad. It might be said that Ilkley were a tad complacent for the first quarter of the game and there were certainly a considerable number of unforced errors which gave the visitors enough hope to mount a couple of vigorous attacks.

One such attack was rewarded with a penalty, quickly taken by Chris Smith, who darted over for the first of Hullensians’ tries.

This was countered immediately by a strong riposte, Kimber making yet another classy break. The try was dotted down by Cooper via Brewer and Malley to establish a 22-8 half-time lead.

The second half did not entirely belong to Ilkley, Hullensians’ excellent skipper and No 8 Jason Conroy scored from a rolling maul, but the home side did run in seven more tries as the visitors’ legs tired and dusk fell.

Now the goals are going over, Ilkley look a far more convincing side. Kimber has transformed the side’s attacking ability and with the likes of Nolson and Steve Burns playing the best rugby of their lives, it is heartening to see how the rest of the team put in the hard yards too, Ollie Renton for example turning over ball after ball.

Steve Graham’s coaching is clearly effective, with the front row matching any opposition for guts and determin- ation.

Pete Small is taking all his own ball and much of the opposition’s in the line-out and with the replacements are performing as well as those they replace, Bridlington away should hold no fear for Rhys Morgan’s team on Saturday. So where from here? A tie against West Leeds at Stacks Field in the next round of the Shield should be a home banker, but before that is the small matter of away matches to Bridlington and the dreaded North Ribblesdale, plus a home game against Dinnington. Then an early Christmas present against Wath, comfortable winners at home to Ilkley early in the season.

Promotion? Who knows. This current side would probably fare well in the next league up, but there are still little creases to iron out. Winning the Shield would do the club a power of good and on current form, this aim is well within Ilkley’s reach.