HAVING been put through the wringer in their home win against Scunthorpe last time out, Ilkley were put through their paces at West Bridgford once again on Saturday.

The visitors got off to a very positive start and immediately put the pressure on the home side.

However, what turned out to be the flavour of their game - loose passing, injudicious penalties and failure keep hold of the ball - frustrated three or four forays during which two kickable penalties were turned down in favour of the touchline and lineouts. The third one, for a high shot on Harry Harrison was in front of the posts and Chuckie Ramsay duly took the three points to take the lead.

The restart coughed up a penalty to West Bridgford for not releasing. Having resisted the resulting onslaught on their own line, Ilkley cleared their lines, but an infringement in the resulting lineout put West Bridgford back on the Ilkley line with a lineout. Three phases and the big pack were over for the opening try. 5-3 to the visitors.

From the restart Ilkley racked up three penalties in their favour. They set up camp on the home

line. The drive was just short. A 5-metre scrum was won and the ball sent left towards Harrison. Horror on horror as the pass was cleverly intercepted by the West Bridgford full back. He scampered clear to touch down under the posts. Ilkley were behind 12-3 with a quarter of the match played.

Floris v.Oekel, down the right, was then cleaned out late, while Elgood was bustled into touch just short.

His pass inside should have found the Flying Dutchman but he was grounded by the off-the-ball tackle. The referee’s arm went up for a penalty try. The offender was further punished with a yellow card. Patently the decision was a correct one, but definitely not to the liking of the home supporters. Ilkley went in the interval 12-10 in arrears.

West Bridgford were restored to 15 but Ilkley were back on their line with a scrum. The ball went down the line. The move was stopped by what looked a deliberate knock on, but a scrum was given 15 metres out. The penalty came.

Elgood went quick and over for a try under the posts. Ramsay obliged. At last Ilkley had their noses in front, 17-12.

Three penalties to West Bridgford followed. Alex Powell was forced off with a shoulder injury with only Ed Brown, a back, to replace him.

Another wild (but very marginal) forward pass gave West Bridgford a scrum 30 metres out. Seemingly inevitably, they won the scrum and set up the centre to crash over pretty much under the posts to snatch back the lead at 19-17.

Now it was the Dalesmen who benefitted from poor play by the home side. A scrum on half way took Ilkley back into the West Bridgford 22. A scrum and then a penalty saw Harrison over the line but the score was ruled out for crossing.

With time running out and three more penalties relieving pressure on the West Bridgford line somehow a lineout was turned over and then a penalty coughed up close to the line.

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Chuckie Ramsay put the kick harmlessly wide, however, the referee had spotted the illegal charge and the kick would be retaken. This time it was straight and true, and Ilkley would go on to snatch a precious 20-19 victory. This week Ilkley host York.