North Premier: Ilkley 24 Preston Grasshoppers 29

ILKLEY'S impressive half-time lead of 17-5, created by three smartly-taken tries, was whittled away in the second half as the North Premier table-toppers' huge pack eventually took control.

Nevertheless, eighth-placed Ilkley were minutes away from engineering a big upset, and two league points were gained, even though it was another disappointing defeat for the Dalesmen on their return to Stacks Field after a month away.

Referee Nathan Howarth had a busy afternoon, and Ilkley conceded two penalties in as many minutes.

Hoppers kicked for touch on both occasions, but spilled the ball forward in the first line-out.

They had better luck with the second as their catch and drive resulted in a try for flanker Sam Gale, although Jake Squirrel missed the conversion.

Ilkley then put together two dozen phases of excellent rugby, and when they were awarded a scrum, Jack Maplesden went to the short side and found Ben Magee in support.

Good hands got the ball to Josh Hall on the right, and the winger finished well for the equalising score, with Magee missing the kick.

There followed a couple of high tackles, one from each side, but it was Ilkley's Ollie Holtham who got the yellow card, and Ilkley had some defending to do.

Having had no little recent practice at playing with 14 men, Ilkley took the game back to Hoppers, and their patient approach reaped dividends when No 8 Max McKay stretched over for a good try.

Magee again failed to add the extras, but Holtham returned after his ten minutes away.

With ten minutes to half-time, Ilkley were looking sharp in attack and defence, and some great handling in the backs led to a penalty that Charles Morgan rifled into touch five metres from the Hoppers' line.

The ball was won, Magee was hauled down and the ruck was formed. Maplesden picked up and looked both ways before noticing a distinct lack of support in either direction.

No matter as the scrum half took the responsibility to dart over himself. Charles Morgan took over the kicking duties and put Ilkley 17-5 in front.

Both sides trotted into the comfort of the changing rooms as Mr Howarth blew for half-time.

Ilkley's kick-off went directly into touch, and Hoppers had a scrum on halfway. This was won, but Ilkley regained possession and caught the Hoppers backs offside.

Morgan's kick to touch was good, but the line-out was lost and Hoppers countered well.

A good break down the left by wingman Niall Crossley was well supported by full back Scott Jordan, who touched down on the left wing to narrow the score to 17-10, with Squirrel again missing the conversion.

Smelling blood, the Hoppers pack started to turn the screw and make their opponents look very uncomfortable, but the Dalesmen held on, even gaining enough possession for a trademark Magee run to the Hoppers 22.

Inevitably, Ilkley were penalised for hands in the ruck and, as the game entered its final quarter, the home side were being pummelled mercilessly by the Hoppers eight.

The pressure finally told after a succession of penalties led to another catch and drive, this time the try being awarded to flanker Oli Trippier. Squirrel's kick hit the post to leave Ilkley still ahead at 17-15.

Back came Ilkley and it was Hoppers' turn to offend at the breakdown as their backs strayed offside, but Morgan's kick came off the post too.

Ilkley maintained the pressure though and when Magee spotted a gap in the Hoppers defence, the full back scythed through for a bonus-point try.

Morgan's kick made it 24-15 and Hoppers needed to score twice to win.

The question now was could Ilkley hold on with around ten minutes of normal time remaining and the Hoppers pack dominating the scrums.

Nerves were jangling even before Ilkley conceded a scrummaging penalty, and when lock Ally Murray took control of the maul following a line-out, his touch down gave Hoppers their own bonus point and Squirrel finally got one over to make it 24-22.

With hearts in mouths, the Stacks Field faithful groaned as Ilkley's kick-off went straight into touch again, giving the visitors a scrum on halfway that they were not going to lose.

Breaking left, Ilkley's tackles went in hard, but when Luke Freer played an apparently loose ball, he was adjudged to have been off his feet and was very harshly carded.

Then, with an awful inevitability from the resultant penalty, the Hoppers pack produced another, match-winning try for Trippier, converted by Squirrel deep into injury time.

Amazingly, referee Howarth played a further five minutes, during which both sides had whiffs of chances, but eventually Squirrel hoofed the ball into touch and that was that.

Results elsewhere mean that Ilkley look reasonably comfortable where they are, but there are some tough fixtures coming up, not least this weekend at Hull.

Last season, the Dalesmen won comfortably at home, but were well-beaten away, so there's a lot to play for.

With a similar, gutsy performance to this one though, Rhys Morgan's men should play with belief and the courage of their convictions in a bid to bring home the points.