Billingham 25 Ilkley 19

THIS was the finale of Ilkley's second season in National League rugby. Having had a week off rugby for Easter and with both sides free of relegation worries this was a match with only final league position and bragging rights up for grabs.

Both clubs had their highest-ever league placing in sight, so there was to be no quarter given by either. It turned out to be a cracking match.

This was Billingham's last home match played on grass as they are having a 4G pitch installed for next season.

It meant the match was played on a fine surface slightly higher than the old sheltered main pitch where a tricky wind favoured the team playing with it.

It was the home side's first-half advantage and they didn't waste it.

The opening salvo saw JH Johnson demonstrating the progress in his transformation from winger to No.8 as he made 30 metres before the ball was dislodged.

Scrums were exchanged before the Dalesmen coughed up the first of rather too many penalties. A good kick aided by that wind gave Billingham a line-out five metres out.

The Billingham lineout, solid from start to finish, was won and the ball moved with finesse from left to right to allow winger Hopley to squeeze through the smallest of gaps to score in the corner.

The Dalesmen hit back and won a penalty 30 metres out. The wind had its wicked way and Joe Rowntree's kick drifted wide.

Billingham then took the game back to Ilkley territory with some fine ball handling where they were aided and abetted by the Dalesmen's propensity to concede penalties.

Finally Ben Magee got away and the Dalesmen were in the Billingham 22 courtesy of a penalty. From the line-out Harry Adams made 15 metres and appeared to everyone to have put Joe Lowes in for a score. Only referee Elliott Lewis disagreed, ruling a double movement.

It was a game changing moment. The debate over the decision cost Ilkley a penalty, then a line-out on halfway.

A really impressive series of dazzling backs moves and phases had Ilkley defending desperately. Skipper Evans saw his winger Husband without a marker and sent a perfectly placed chip into his waiting hands as he crossed the Ilkley line.

Four more penalties were conceded to put Billingham back into Ilkley's 22. A scrum and several phases later Husband bagged his brace.

Half-time came as blessed relief to the large band of supporters who had travelled up from Ilkley.

Coach Rhys Morgan needed one last big battle cry to lift his men for the second half.

Charlie Scott replaced Nathan Smith and Jack Maplesden succumbed to a heavy cold. Declan Jackson came on at wing and Joe Rowntree moved into his preferred scrum half role.

Actually the wind cost Ilkley dear. A long clearance from the Ilkley 10 metre line ended up rolling dead. The Billingham scrum put the back into attack mode and five or six phases later flanker Jackson found an unusual big hole in the Dalesmens' defence to bag their bonus-point try.

Ilkley hit back straight away with some tremendous rugby of their own, JH Johnson forcing his way over for a score.

This time Mr Lewis was forgiving about a suspicion of double movement. Rowntree obliged with the conversion.

Back came the Dalesmen with more enterprise and flare. A ruck was won. Rowntree picked up 25 metres out, looked up, saw a gap a shot through it to score. He converted to reduce the lead to eight points.

A penalty conceded on the 22 after a free kick was butchered gave Billingham another three points.

Then Magee began to make more gains and he put his side into a great position on the left. A line-out and drive ended with a knock on when a score was inevitable.

At last the breakthrough came after good work by the forwards. Magee made a jinking run from deep before putting Jackson in for a try.

A losing bonus point was to be the day's return for Ilkley as Billingham held out for the final few minutes of what had been an entertaining and interesting encounter.