Rossendale 34 Ilkley 22

AFTER a week luxuriating in National Three North’s play-off position, Ilkley faced the daunting trip to the Marl Pits to face the formidable semi-pro Rossendale side. Rhys Morgan’s Dalesmen showed an astonishing seven changes.

Aaron Magee and Billy Hickson returned to first team action while Rob Rekis made his debut on the wing.

This makeshift team, with other individuals playing out of position, did its level best, but came away pointless and fell five places down the table.

The apprehension felt by many of the Ilkley faithful seemed justified as Rossendale stormed to a 12-0 lead after just ten minutes.

The first try came when Ilkley kicked away possession and Rossendale countered, sending full back Curtis Strong over.

Ilkley progressed up the field, but a loose pass led to a Rossendale scrum and the home pack served notice as to what was to come with a well-taken try by flanker Dominic Moon, ably converted by Steve Nutt.

The visitors went further behind moments later from a penalty awarded for a ruck offence.

At 15-0 down, Ilkley responded well and Rowntree smacked over a penalty against the wind from just inside the opposition half.

Nutt and Rowntree traded penalty misses, but there was no doubt that the Rossendale pack was well on top and the question was if Ilkley could last out to half-time without conceding again.

The home forwards battered away at the Ilkley defence and were rewarded in injury time when No8 Ryan McKibbin claimed a good touch-down.

Rossendale extended their lead to 27-3 early in the second half when they opted for a scrum rather than a penalty. Their pack secured possession and the ball was moved down the line for right winger George Peel to score a try which Nutt converted.

Ilkley were clearly feeling the strain and Rossendale's powerful-running full back Strong created his side's fifth try. He capitalised on flimsy tackling as he ran the ball out of defence before putting Sammy Atiola clear to score a try which |Nutt converted.

Despite being 34-3 down, Ilkley showed plenty of character. and they were to be denied what looked to be a good score.

Full back Ben Magee made a trademark break from defence to set up an opening for the supporting Pat Power.

The flanker collected Magee’s perfectly-weighted pass and made it over the line, hitting the posts at the same time. Referee Daniel Woods was unsighted and deemed it to be a knock on.

A scrappily won scrum back in the Ilkley half set up an almost identical move and this time Power left no doubt about the try, smack-bang between the posts with Rowntree converting.

Ilkley were in the ascendancy and the pressure told on a tiring Rossendale defence as new boy Rekis hung on well to an inside pass to mark his debut with a try which Rowntree again converted.

The final score came from a superb team-effort by Ilkley and a gem of an offload by Luke Freer to the supporting Aaron Magee who scored in the corner.

Ilkley's makeshift side never gave up the fight and went in search of a fourth try but were denied in the frantic closing minutes.