Ilkley 22 West Hartlepool 6

IF this was horse racing, the official going would have been bottomless. A team of helpers had forked the worst bits on the quagmire of a Stacks Field pitch from 9am when the game was declared on.

A morning of sleet and rain had given way to bright sunshine come kick-off time and a host of the Dalesmen’s past players gathered to watch Ilkley take on West Hartlepool, once of the English top division.

Late changes due to the illness of James Spencer and unavailability of Gus Ramsey saw young tyro Will Coates restored to the back row alongside the returning Steve Graham, leaving the pack slightly lighter in weight than the one selected. This counted for nought.

The first half did fill the Ilkley supporters with some trepidation as to whether their side could extend their unbeaten home record to 24 games.

It was littered with errors by both teams and there was a distinct scarcity of try-scoring opportunities. West had one look at the Ilkley line but Pete Small, enjoying a great season, stole line-out possession.

Winger Paul Petchey went close for Ilkley but held on for a second too long and the opportunity was lost.

Once again flyer Ben Magee was dangerous down his wing but the telling passes were spilled.

It is unfair to be critical. The pitch, the wet and the cold simply conspired to frustrate attempts to run, pass and catch.

It was West who went in front after four minutes when a spilled ball was kicked long into the Dalesmen’s 22 and a retreating Ilkley defence was forced into conceding a penalty.

Fly half Zac Southern coolly slotted the kick. Thirty-five minutes followed with both sets of players, almost indiscernible as to which colours they were wearing, slugging it out with little or nothing to set the heart racing.

With two minutes of the half to go, West went 6-0 up as another injudicious failure to roll away from the tackle yielded a penalty on the 22-metre line which Southern landed. Both scores were gifts with little other threat to the Dalesmen’s line.

While West remained on the pitch at the break, Ilkley made for the warm refuge of the changing room. Coach Rhys Morgan probably raised the temperature a few degrees as he made it clear to his team that they had to stick the ball up their jumper and keep hold of it rather than attempt to play an expansive game.

Morgan had the good sense to have a change of white strip available. This served two purposes, the players had dry shirts and the referee and crowd could tell one side from the other, at least for a short while. Anyway, Morgan’s words were heeded.

The human wrecking ball JH Johnson was sent on to replace Petchey. The Dalesmen started the half like an unleashed steam train.

A high kick forced a West knock-on which led to a penalty on halfway.

Josh Kimber’s touch-finder was a beauty. A great take-and-drive produced the long-awaited try with their superb young lock James Colclough claiming the touchdown. The deficit was one point as Kimber missed the conversion.

Another penalty came after a West scrum had been disrupted on halfway. Kimber made touch inside the West 22 with another fine kick.

The line-out and drive was deployed again and the tireless Tom Baxter crashed over for a second try. Kimber was short with the conversion but his side were in front 10-6.

The Dalesmen’s scrum now began to get the upper hand on their bigger opponents, with the deceptively strong Josh Cockerham, the admirable veteran Jon Hutchinson and crash-ball specialist Tom Baxter doing their business effectively in the tight.

The experience of centre Alastair Monks was a valued asset. He and Steven Nolson were solid in defence and decisive in attack.

With 20 minutes to go skipper Stuart Vincent was almost in after Johnson had battered through to the West 22.

The fleet-footed full back chose to step inside instead of out and was felled just short. West won the line-out to clear but not far enough. Morgan sent on Steve Burns for Colclough.

The Ilkley line-out was well won and driven over from fully 25 metres out. Oliver Renton claimed the score. His experience and strength at the back of the scrum, and in the line-out, is an invaluable asset when it is available to the Dalesmen.

With the lead 15-6 and the prospect of a four-try bonus point in sight, the last ten minutes were all Ilkley. The strangely-subdued home crowd finally found its voice.

Jon Pickersgill came on for the final ten minutes. Immediately he made two great catches at the front of the line-out.

The all-important score came from the backs. After several good phases and with a penalty coming, Kimber got a pass away to Nolson.

The centre span out of two tackles to go over under the posts to give Kimber an easy conversion. The Dalesmen were home but far from dry.

The 22-6 win was a great result on such an awful day. Credit has to go to all 36 players and the referee Mr Lunn for their fortitude in getting through the 80 minutes. They all left the field resembling mud wrestlers but, to a man, with a smile on their faces – the Dalesmen’s just a little brighter than those of their plucky opponents.

Ilkley’s win saw them draw level on points with Percy Park, who are only clinging on to second place by points difference after losing 23-22 at Wheatley Hills.