Ilkley 33 Pocklington 12

THE sun shone, the Wharfe Valley looked resplendent and everyone turned up. Was there a match on ? There sure was ! And the Dalesmen won it with something to spare to secure a second promotion as champions in as many years.

Over the years, Pocklington have proved to be doughty opponents and this was no exception, as their forward-oriented play certainly tested the Ilkley defence.

The home side though mastered the game from the start and their particularly ferocious tacking kept Pocklington’s relatively weak strike force at bay.

A hat-trick from Ben Magee and a try apiece for Josh Kimber and Nick Carolan had the large crowd on its feet. Four conversions by Kimber took his total to 74 for the season and it is now two years and 29 matches since the Dalesmen last lost at home.

Lock Pete Small returned and full-strength Ilkley started like the proverbial train and despite the first attacking scrum being penalised for feeding – an all too rare offence – the home side was soon back on the attack, Kimber releasing Magee on the half-way line.

There was only going to be the one winner in the kick and chase and Ilkley were 5-0 up, the conversion attempt narrowly missing.

Five minutes later, another kick and chase saw an orderly queue of Ilkley’s backs form to flop onto the ball, but unfortunately Alastair Monks nudged it forward and the chance was lost. The home pack was then penalised at the scrum and Pocklington cleared.

Monks soon made amends when Ilkley’s scrum gained the ascendency and despite a distinctly risky couple of passes out to the backs, the veteran centre fed Magee who flashed over in the corner. Kimber’s magnificent kick made it 12.0.

For the remainder of the half, Ilkley were definitely on the wrong side of young referee, Matt Astle and a string of penalties were awarded against the home side, much to the crowd’s displeasure.

Pocklington though simply could not break the Ilkley defence, whose tackling in the forwards, led by Stevie Graham was outstanding. Mr Astle’s patience finally ran out though and Ollie Renton was carded.

The Ilkley 14 moved up a gear and could have scored another three tries in the first half. A Paul Petchey inside pass went begging and then a Kimber pass that put Monks over was adjudged forward. Monks made it clear he did not share the referee’s opinion and Ilkley were penalised.

The Ilkley front row of John Cooksey, Jon Hutchinson and Tom Baxter were causing all sorts of problems and had the visitors’ pack reeling and the last move of the half came when James Spencer was held up over the line.

Pocklington were penalised and Kimber took a quick one and popped a short pass to Steve Nolson, who was also held up. The half-time whistle came as blessed relief to Pocklington.

Coach Rhys Morgan needed the break to calm his men down so as to turn their dominance into points and Josh Cockeham and James Crossley entered the fray, to be followed shortly by JH Johnson.

Ilkley’s first sortie into the Pocklington 22 earned a penalty, quickly taken by the alert Tom Collard and there was Kimber on hand to dot down under the posts. An easy kick made it19-0

Then for a full quarter of an hour, Ilkley conceded penalty after penalty, but still Pocklington were unable to unlock the home defence. An attacking line-out was stolen by James Spencer and the danger was averted.

Into the last 20 minutes now and with some of the crowd knowing that rivals Sheffield were doing well, it was a nervy time for the Ilkley support. Then a trademark bullocking run from Johnson set up a beautiful try for the supporting Magee to claim his hat-trick.

Pocklington’s flanker, Joe Brown was carded for a punch and an Ilkley break out of defence nearly led to a try from full-back Stuart Vincent, which would have been a fairy-tale ending for the Ilkley skipper.

It was left though to the Ilkley pack to win the scrum. A short pass from Kimber to the supporting Carolan and the flanker was in under the posts, Kimber adding the extras to complete the Dalesmen’s scoring for the afternoon.

It was not however the end of the scoring in the match, as a slightly surreal last five saw Pocklington score two tries and a conversion to add some respectability to the scoreline. The first came after a Kimber clearance kick held in the wind, the ball falling into the grateful arms of Pock back-row Jared Banbridge who scored under the posts, Dan Eliot slotting the conversion.

Then another try, immediately after the kick-off, when the umpteenth penalty awarded to the visitors was taken quickly to allow wingman Dan Pickard to score in the corner. Eliot’s attempt went wide and then the whistle was blown for one last time and Ilkley were home and dry at 33-7.

Well, what a season and what a team. Now is not the time to dwell on the possible comings and goings of personnel as National League rugby approaches, but more to salute the great achievement of the club in getting to where it is now. Well done, Ilkley, the town is proud of you !