Pocklington 22 Ilkley 20

ILKLEY’S North Premier League season continued its drift downhill as they suffered a four tries to two reverse at Pocklington on Saturday.

One way or another, it was goal-kicking that made the difference and earned a precious point for the Dalesmen.

Pocklington’s Dan Elliot made a dreadful hash of five of his six attempts, whereas Ben Magee kept Ilkley in the game, carrying on where he left off at Cleckheaton last week, with a 100 per cent record that lasted until the last kick of the game.

This was a long-range effort that fell an agonising metre sort and which would have given his side an unlikely victory in this bruising encounter.

As with Sandal a fortnight ago, the hosts started the game without a win to their name and at the end of it, the Percy Road faithful were cockahoop as their side notched up five league points.

Pock’s tackling won them the game, along with their better management of the conditions.

Referee James Millner had travelled from Cornwall on an exchange and allowed both sets of players an enormous amount of freedom to stray offside, though to be fair, it was Ilkley that generally got the rub of the green.

Pock made the initial breakthrough when Ilkley were penalised in midfield. A kick to touch by Elliot was followed by a classic catch and drive which led to hooker Dave Birch dotting down.

Ilkley shook off this early disappointment and with Pat Power and Magee combining well, a penalty was won in the opposition 22 that Magee slotted over.

Another penalty followed shortly afterwards that Chris Gemmell rifled into touch ten metres from Pock’s line.

Ilkley won a scrappy line-out and the pack rumbled towards the posts, somehow losing the ball in the process, giving Pock a defending scrum.

Ilkley pressure forced a hasty clearance kick that failed to make touch and the visiting backs combined to set up a counter-attack that should have produced a score, but Pock’s drift defence saved the day.

It was then Pock’s turn to break out and with what seemed to be the entire back-line a good two metres offside, the charge upfield ended with a well-taken try by full-back, Jed Jackson.

From the kick-off, Pock fed the ball back to Elliot to clear, but his kick was charged down by the onrushing Ilkley pack and with the ball in the safe hands of Nathan Smith, all Ilkley had to do was to retain their composure, which they did.

Scrum half Blake Morgan looped a high overhead pass to Gemmell who scored. Magee's conversion made it 10-10.

Ilkley didn’t deal well with kick-offs all afternoon and a misfield allowed Pock into their 22. A clearance kick was charged down and flanker, Jack Holborough was on hand to score in the corner.

Coaches Morgan and Smith would have been pleased with Ilkley’s response. While the kick-off went straight into touch, giving Pock a scrum, the possession was disrupted and Ilkley managed a steal.

Pock’s defence was too desperate for referee Millner and Pock’s centre Billy Hardy was shown a yellow card.

Adam Newman won clean line-out ball and Pock infringed again at the breakdown.

Another line-out and another catch and drive saw Dan Lawrence emerging last from the pile of bodies. Magee’s kick put Ilkley into a 17-15 lead at half-time.

Ilkley squandered the chance to increase their lead when Magee made a 50-metre burst which led to Pock infringing.

The Dalesmen spurned the easy kick at goal as they took a quick tap which came to nothing due to a knock on.

Ilkley did extend their lead from a Magee penalty soon after, but they were soon on the back foot after failing to deal with the kick off.

Elliot missed a penalty shot at goal before Hardy produced a mazy run that ultimately led to a try for Karl Durkin as the pack rumbled over far out on the left wing.

To everyone in the ground’s surprise, over went the conversion by Elliot and Ilkley trailed by two points

Elliot had another horrible penalty miss before Ilkley had a try disallowed.

Magee broke free on the right before producing a sublime chip for winger Josh Hall to collect.

The pick-up was no mean piece of skill, but Hall was adjudged to have made a double-movement in touching down.

Ilkley continued to hammer away at the Pock defence, newcomer Max McKay catching the eye on more than one occasion and then came the inevitable penalty, just inside the Pock half.

Ilkley skipper, Elliot Morgan, spoke with the referee and opted for goal.

Magee’s strike was clean and dead-centre accurate, but short.

And that was it.