Ilkley win one-sided tussle

International rugby on TV, Otley at home to high flyers Doncaster, no sponsored lunch, the somewhat inclement weather and some mis-information in the press left Stacks Field feeling rather under-populated in comparison to recent attendances.

Simon Smith (groin), Jon Hutchinson (flu) and Ollie Davy (back twinge) were late backwords. Tim Rawlins, Martin Hemingway and Fred Matthews deputised.

Wheatley Hills, a proper amateur community rugby club and with whom Ilkley have enjoyed many close encounters, are struggling this season. Injuries and unavailabilities tend to follow lack of success on the field.

The changes to the team in the programme were almost too many to catalogue, and the team that took the field included five 18 year- olds in its ranks. Each and every one gave their all for the cause but in the end it proved all too much for such a young side.

The game was already beyond them when two of the older heads decided that playing rugby was too banal and began an arm swinging contest which resulted in them first conceding a try whilst conducting a boxing match with Luffman and co (not a sensible idea) and then both getting red cards as the concept of trying to tackle properly was discarded in favour of wild Audley Harrison type swipes which missed their target but caught the watchful eye of adjudicator Mr Iwan Williams.

Losing two experienced players for three matches whilst trying to climb off the bottom of the table is a bad idea, to do it in a team of young lads trying their hardest to stem the tide with some honour and pride to boot, is just plain senseless.

The Dalesmen welcomed Anthony Cadman back to the ranks for his seasonal debut. Joining him was Charlie Cudworth making only his third appearance of the season.

Hills had the first opportunity for points as a kick at goal from a penalty just outside the 22 skewed wide.

The Dalesmen had already squandered a scoring chance and came back at Hills in waves. A well secured line-out won them a penalty in front of goal. Cadman made no mistake. An Ilkley penalty on their own 22 took play to half way. The line-out was again solidly secured. Cadman probed the Hills line with a trademark kick and their line-out was turned over to enable the Ilkley backs to whip the ball crisply out to winger John Fuller for a superb try in the corner.

Minutes later and Jack Shaylor, the man for all seasons (and positions), pounced onto a spilled Hills ball and five pairs of hands worked the ball with sumptuous skill to Stuart Vincent who went in under the posts to enable Cadman to make it 15-0.

More Ilkley pressure secured yet another penalty in front of goal. Cadman made it 18- 0. The Dalesmen took their foot off the gas for ten minutes and Hills got close but a crooked throw two metres out spoiled their best chance of the half.

Two more penalty goals before half-time from the ubiquitous Cadman effectively put the game out of Hills reach, the score 24-0.

Fred Matthews made a welcome return to the big time as Martin Hemingway (scheduled to be third XV prop in the morning) gave way to his younger colleague.

Ilkley were dominating play without achieving much in the way of return. The rain fell, the pitch deteriorated and Ilkley's special brand of good above the ground' rugby became less and less achievable. The standards dropped on both sides but particularly with the Doncaster outfit.

More chances were squandered by the Dalesmen as crucial passes failed to go to hand or slipped out of hand. Hills had nothing to offer so their big men, numbers three and five in particular, resorted to the aforementioned tricks.

They were not long in being red carded but before departing for the early bath had just managed to turn round from round one to see Ian McKenzie going over the line 50 metres away for his try. Cadman improved it to make it 31-0.

It very quickly became 15 Dalesmen against 13 Hillsmen. Pete Small had replaced Cudworth, his job well done. Ollie Coughlan replaced Vincent (job done too) causing a re-organisation in the backs, the versatile Shaylor taking up centre duty.

The remaining 20 minutes was fairly tortuous to the spectators but Hills battled gamely under the considerable disadvantage of numbers. Jack Shaylor added one try under the posts after some great work by Ian Moffatt. At 38-0 ambition took hold of senses.

A dropped ball as the Dalesmen tried to run it out of their 22 allowed Hills to grab an unlikely try and a pinch of pride to reduce the margin to 33 points.

It is always difficult to play scintillating rugby against a beaten side with two men down. It is even more difficult on a pitch that is rapidly turning to treacle.

This was a competent if unspectacular display by the Dalesmen with the powerhouse front five dominating proceedings in the set pieces, the back row going about their business in authoritative fashion and the backs looking better organised with Cadman showing what makes him one of the all time greats of Ilkley rugby.

If they can build on this then a second place finish is still possible. Table-toppers York stumbled at Bridlington allowing Pontefract to move back to the top. Bradford Salem were beaten at YMCA. Ilkley are in third place, six points behind second placed York but with a game in hand. It is still all to play for.