Birkenhead Park 31 Ilkley 40

THE Dalesmen come out on top in seriously fierce battle of Birkenhead.

How this Park team are fighting a relegation battle is a mystery. They had smashed the Dalesmen into a heavy defeat at Stacks Field and looked every bit as good a side as had been encountered all season.

The opening salvos set the tone for the full 80 minutes. The Dalesmen went ahead from the kick-off after a ball was turned over and a line-out won by the superb James Spencer led to a drive which brought a try for Pat Power.

Park came back with a vengeance with Adam Wellington scoring a try after Ilkley were pushed off their own ball at a five-metre scrum. Dave Hall's conversion made it 7-5.

More frenetic stuff saw the Dalesmen snaffle a loose ball on Park's 22. Winger Declan Jackson found himself in space and shook off several defenders before feeding Ben Magee for the second try. Joe Rowntree added the conversion.

Hall slotted a penalty when Ilkley transgressed in front of their posts and the home side went ahead when good work by centre Sam Russell led to Jack Ashcroft scoring under the sticks with Hall converting.

A wonderful try-saving tackle from Magee lifted Ilkley's spirits and within minutes they regained the lead. Jackson picked up the ball at the back of a ruck, spotted a gap in the defence, and raced in for a superb try which Rowntree converted.

Ilkley's 19-17 lead didn't last long into the second half. A poor clearance was run back at them into their 22. Several phases of Park power play produced the score for Stu Brown which Hall again converted.

Park again upped the pressure but the gritty Dalesmen soaked it up. They secured a scrum on their 22. Josh Kimber cleared desperately, but the pace of the chasing Dalesmen forced a turnover on half way.

The ball was quickly despatched to Magee whose electric pace left Park flat footed. He burned off the whole defensive line to score. Rowntree slotted the conversion as the lead changed hands again.

24-26. The tension was palpable.

The lead was extended when the excellent Power somehow managed to pick up from a retreating scrum before showing a clean pair heels to the Park blindside defence.

He fed Jackson to plunder a nerve-settling score which Rowntree again improved.

Still Park would not lie down and Ilkley were forced to defend 12 phases

The final Ilkley try came from another unpromising position. Their scrum was pushed back on halfway but Power was alert and exploited a gap down the blindside.

His pass to Jackson allowed the ball to be sent down the line via Kimber to create a try for Elliot Morgan. Rowntree's conversion made it 40-24.

Still Park would not give up the fight. They launched a concerted attack which brought a try for Oliver Mabbott which Hall converted.

It brought to an end a thrilling match in which Ilkley look to have guaranteed their place in National League rugby next season.