Ilkley 14 Sheffield 14

ILKLEY’S satisfaction at securing a hard-earned National League Three North draw was tempered by their exit from the Yorkshire Cup in a close-fought double-header at Stacks Field.

The visitors, who had been pipped for the North One East title by the Dalesmen last season, secured their cup triumph with an extra-time penalty from Joe Cribley.

It was blow for Ilkley after fighting back from 14-0 down on an afternoon when their old problems with the line-out resurfaced.

Cribley and Ilkley’s Joe Rowntree both missed early penalties before Sheffield opened the scoring.

Ilkley lost their own line-out and Sheffield centre Owen Smith burst through a gap in the home defence to score under the posts. Cribley added the conversion.

Another line-out malfunction minutes gave the visitors the chance to extend their lead.

Despite stand-off Jimmy Pearson ignoring a three-man overlap, Ilkley had already been penalised and from the resulting kick to touch, a fine catch and drive saw Jonny France emerge from a pile of bodies to claim the try. Cribley added the extras and Ilkley were 14 points down.

Ilkley responded with a fine break from centre Elliot Morgan but his good work was undone when a stray boot from young Dan Lawrence earned a yellow card and allowed Sheffield to escape.

The 14 men held firm during Lawrence’s ten minutes on the sidelines and they responded to his return by halving Sheffield’s lead.

Returning skipper Josh Kimber plucked a ball out of the air and triggered a fine move which saw Morgan send winger JH Johnson crashing through a couple of tackles to score a try. Rowntree’s conversion wasn’t the prettiest but it went over and Ilkley were back in the game on the stroke of half-time.

The third quarter of the game was nip and tuck, with both sides striving hard to put their stamp on the game. Ilkley had the edge, but a couple more lost line-outs and unfortunate penalties at the breakdown denied the Dalesmen the score they so needed.

Battling Ed Brown was replaced by Kimber at stand off and Declan Jackson entered the fray. But it was Sheffield that were on top.

A solid scrum took the visitors into the Ilkley 22, but then came relief. Morgan pounced on a loose ball, made 20 metres and fed the tireless Gus Ramsey on the left wing. He in turn found Steve Nolson, whose perfectly-weighted kick allowed him to outstrip a despairing defence to claim the five points.

Another ugly kick from Rowntree added the two points and it was all level at 14 points apiece.

Sheffield threw in the kitchen sink in attack and when the Ilkley pack was penalised for tackling the catcher in the air, Cribley had the chance to win the match, but he missed.

With two points in the bag a Yorkshire Cup semi-final against Otley or Harrogate was at stake in extra time.

Ilkley started the period well, but when their scrum once more came under pressure, a penalty was conceded and Cribley obliged, giving his side a 3-0 cushion.

This lead was carried onto the second period, when Ilkley were very much in command of possession, but were held out time and time again by a valiant Sheffield defence.

Then came the game’s big talking point. The Ilkley pack launched a huge drive which had Sheffield being pushed back towards their own line. To the surprise and annoyance of the home crowd, the referee penalised Ilkley when the maul collapsed five metres from the Sheffield line.

The visitors cleared their lines from the penalty to bring to an end Ilkley's Yorkshire Cup hopes.

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