Morpeth 21 Ilkley 0

Ilkley made the long trek north to Morpeth for a game they must have harboured hopes of winning. After a 13-13 draw at Stack’s Field early in the season Ilkley knew they were capable of beating their North-East opponents but sadly, an inept display saw them go down to a 21-0 defeat.

On a bleak but still day, in front of a sparse crowd including only a handful of Ilkley supporters, Ilkley took to the field with a much changed side from the team that beat Pontefract so convincingly.

John Cooksey came in at tight-head to steady the scrum and Matt Dakin made his first start for the first XV at blind-side. Chad Shepherd moved to scrum-half as James Stocker returned at fly-half and Tom Hebditch came in on the wing.

Ilkley needed a solid start but gifted a try to the home side after only five minutes. No 8 Morrison broke from a scrum making 20 metres untouched before giving an inside pass to ex-Otley player Paul Mooney.

Mooney danced round three would be tacklers and carried another three Ilkley players over the line with him. The conversion was straight forward, 7-0.

Ilkley worked hard to get back into the game without threatening Morpeth’s line as the rest of the half became a mid-field battle.

Morpeth made Ilkley’s life difficult at the breakdown and managed to turn over possession whenever Ilkley got into their opponents 22.

Ilkley would have settled for a 7-0 scoreline at the break but after both kickers had missed long-range attempts at goal, Ilkley switched off to allow Morpeth another score on the stroke of half-time.

Missed tackles on the fringes have cost Ilkley dear this season and again a Morpeth player was allowed to stride through on the 22 and pop the ball inside to scrum-half Reynolds who zipped in under the posts, 14-0.

The second-half continued in the same vein with Ilkley trying hard but Morpeth looking the more likely to score.

Only handling errors and brave defence in the corners from Ilkley’s wingers kept Morpeth at bay, but finally, the pressure told as hooker Charlton found a hole to score Morpeth’s third try. Stand-off Jinks was successful with his third conversion to end the scoring at 21-0.

For Ilkley, winger Weatherby made regular yards with ball in hand, lock Dan Wright had a solid game as did prop John Oakes including a memorable 30 yard break down the touchline.

Noone can question Ilkley’s endeavour this season but the team played with no apparent strategy and little inventiveness against an ordinary side they were capable of beating.

Their win against Pontefract was born out of spreading the ball wide and utilising the backs. Perhaps more of the same against Morpeth would have been a more successful ploy.

Slow ball and forwards often getting in the way in the ten channel means the class they have in the backs in Simon Smith and Stuart Vincent have no chance to influence the game.

Ilkley compete valiantly but this week’s match is typical in that the only difference between the sides were three soft tries Ilkley gave away. Very few opposing teams give Ilkley such easy points at this level.

Hope now shifts to Ilkley’s next game at home, this Saturday, against Billingham, kick-off 2.15pm