Sandal v Ilkley

September 8th 2018

Those who think it’s an awful long time since Ilkley beat Sandal are bang-on correct – it’s not exactly when a try was only worth three points, but it was in fact back in 2007 on Saint Patrick’s Day and it’s going to have to be an early Christmas present for the Dalesmen for them to break this run.

On a very wet day in Wakefield, Ilkley literally slipped to a 23-16 defeat in a game that they somehow rarely looked like winning, despite ghosting into a one-point lead with only 8 minutes of play remaining.

And whilst having the rub of the green in terms of some odd refereeing decisions, Charlie Morgan’s normally reliable boot wasn’t working 100% and a curiously disjointed display overall added to the visitors’ woes.

Sandal also had mixed fortunes in the kicking department, which had an important influence on the outcome of the match.

Ilkley had much the better start to the game. The line-out worked well and the handling was good, considering the abysmal conditions. Sandal coughed up two penalties within kicking distance, but both attempts fell short and then Ilkley suffered a major blow as a nasty clash of heads resulted in Josh Cockerham having to leave the field, replaced by Billy Nicholls.

Still playing in lively style, it was very much against the run of play when Sandal broke from their own 22, full-back Jack Townend feeding Dom Fawcett the scoring pass. James Ellar’s conversion attempt failed.

Ilkley earned another penalty just after the kick-off after a well-won line, but again, the kick was missed.

A Sandal assault led to a line on the Ilkley 22, but having won it, they were penalised and J-H Johnson’s left boot took play back onto the Sandal 22. The line won, Johnson was tackled high and this time, Morgan took the three points – 5-3 to the home side.

Ilkley were battling hard, with Luke Pearson and Elliot Morgan making some good breaks in difficult conditions, but a couple of penalties were conceded and from the second, a classic catch and drive resulted in a score for lock Adam Hopkinson. The missed conversion illustrated how difficult the conditions were.

Referee Elliot Lewis’s half-time whistle allowed the players some respite from the driving rain, but Ilkley faced a second half playing uphill towards the shallow end of Milnthorpe.

Ilkley started the second half playing with some real intent, even if a lost scrum caused some jitters. Taking the game directly to their hosts, two penalties came their way, both despatched with aplomb by an increasingly confident Morgan. The second offence earned Sandal’s Jack Townend a yellow and coincided nicely with the downpour stopping.

This was Ilkley’s chance, but as is so often the case, the 14 men of Sandal upped their efforts and Ilkley were not able to take advantage of their superior numbers and neither side added to the score, which remained 10-9.

A poor clearance kick by Ilkley was well-fielded by the returning Townend, whose run into the Ilkley defence set up Sandal’s third try, courtesy of Skipper Simon Frewin. Another kick failed, but the home side’s lead increased to 15-9.

Blake Morgan came on for Andy Dixon and Peter Erskine for Stephen Burns.

Ilkley’s efforts were eventually rewarded when a catch and drive from a line on the Sandal 5m line led to a try from the tireless Pat Power. Morgan’s kick sailed over and Ilkley were in the lead, albeit by a single point.

Sandal’s response was immediate and effective, as from the kick-off, some uncharacteristic poor tackling allowed lock Austin Thompson a 40m break. Stopping him under the posts was deemed illegal and over went James Ellar’s kick to restore his side’s lead at 18-16.

Ilkley stormed back, winning another penalty, which drifted agonisingly wide.

Again the Dalesmen did their utmost to break out of defence, but a knock-on gave Sandal a scrum and surely, that was it. Referee Lewis though had other ideas and penalising Ilkley for wheeling illegally, Sandal kicked for touch.

Another catch by former Ilkley Number 8 Nick Carolan and a great drive by the Sandal pack won a bonus point try, scored by that man Thompson again.

A successful kick would deny Ilkley the losing bonus point, but fortunately for the red and blacks, the kick hit the post and that was it – 23-16 to Sandal.

Newcomer Toby McCrea on the wing had a sound debut and as ever, there was no lack of commitment by this Ilkley side, fighting for the full 80 minutes.

Ilkley slip just one place to third in the Northern Premier League, behind early pacemakers Billingham and Blaydon. Next week sees the visit of Kirkby Lonsdale to Stacks Field which should be an interesting encounter, their having lost at home to Kendal, Ilkley’s last well-beaten opponents. Coaches Rhys Morgan and Jimmy Lowes will no doubt be working hard on making Stacks Field an uncomfortable place for all visitors.