Ilkley 21 Billingham 18

It would be unkind to gloat on a magnificent victory, but it is surely in order to bask for a few moments on what must be the shock result of the season and of Ilkley’s journey in level 6 rugby.

This was a victory carved out of dogged determination and a belief that seems to have flooded back into the side as 2010 unfolds. Could the old idiom ‘fortress Stacks Field’ return to the vernacular? At least ‘unbeaten at home in 2010’ has a good ring to it.

Those who have watched the side during these difficult two seasons always felt they were not far off the mark and that a few victories were lurking in there somewhere.

Let’s be effusive with credits here. The good grace and sportsmanship with which they have accepted defeat have been remarkable. The never-say-die attitude and the fighting spirit have won the admiration of many.

The leadership and constant optimism of skipper Stuart Vincent and player/coach Hamish Pratt have been exemplified by all those who have pulled on an Ilkley jersey this season. A victory like this was not before time and, to be honest, not totally unexpected.

Even when they went 8-0 down there was something in the air that said this might the day when things turned the corner. Billingham, it has to said, were not firing on all cylinders despite laying a firm grip on the first 20 minutes of this pulsating encounter.

Much pressure was soaked up by Ilkley as a series a scrums and penalties were contested and beaten off deep in their own half. The inevitable penalty was conceded in front of goal. P Evans stroked it over.

The first quarter was clearly Billingham’s but gradually Ilkley were sneaking back into the game. Chad Shepherd began to find his touch with the boot putting the visitors on the back foot in their 22. The Ilkley forward play was strong and forceful with Dan Wright, Hamish Pratt and young Callum Gillon setting up good platform for the backs.

The backs too began to make themselves felt. It was clear Billingham were becoming frustrated not having their own way and, without the superb Chris Hyndman to punch holes, they were nothing like the force they were when putting 60 points on the Dalesmen at Billingham.

Ilkley were by now gaining the upper hand and almost scored before winning a penalty close in. The very kickable position was ignored in favour of a set scrum, but in the inevitable enthusiasm to cross the line a penalty was conceded.

As seems to have been the case for much of this season it was a mistake midfield followed by a penalty inside their 22 that temporarily took the wind out of their sails. Taken quickly, the ball was sent wide for No 8 M Evans to cross for the first try of game.

Now the psychology of top playing bottom came into play. Billingham must have thought they had cracked the resistance. The resistance wasn’t for cracking though!

Back came the Dalesmen. Billingham’s discipline deserted them. Referee Mr Colin Tovey, as experienced a whistleblower as you get, saw through the ball killing and other nefarious tactics, awarding three in a row to Ilkley. A well taken lineout secured by the splendid Dan Wright was spread out wide to find the ever youthful Simon Smith on an unstoppable line inside the Billingham defence to score a superb try. Peter Shanks slotted the conversion. There was a solitary point in it at half-time.

Now was the time for skipper and coach to call for that extra energy level that comes with a sniff of victory. Where it would come from was uncertain. Surely the Dalesmen had excelled already. Well, that bit of stardust came from somewhere. The kick-off was well won by the charging Ilkley forwards. The omni-present Pratt picked up a seemingly impossible ball and drove on. He was stopped, but not before squeezing a pass to veteran back row Charlie Cudworth who defied his seniority to burst like a 19 year-old winger to score a thoroughly deserved try.

Shanks was inches wide with his kick from the touchline but nonetheless Ilkley had a precious 12-8 lead.

A couple of minutes later Shanks landed a cracker to increase the lead to 15-8 as Mr Tovey awarded another penalty just inside the Billingham half.

Then it all got a bit too much for Mr Tovey as he was moved to show yellow to Billingham prop Robinson. Shanks again stepped up and, from all of 50 metres, slotted another beauty for 18-8.

When things are running for you the kicks that in weeks gone by had slid agonisingly wide now were nailed on through the middle. Is that stardust called confidence?

The Billingham coaching team had had enough. Chris Hyndman, on the bench due to a niggling injury came on. There was a good half hour to go, so all his Newcastle, Northampton and Otley experience was going to be needed to turn this one round. Sure enough he made a big impact. Holes were punched.

It took two or three Ilkley men to stop him but, all around him, his men were losing their composure to give up what ground they made to penalties and handling errors. There were heroics in defence all over the park and it was a full 20 minutes before the men in green penetrated the tigerish Dalesmen defensive lines.

A line-out lost on the Ilkley 22 gave up possession. The ball went wide. Hyndman punched the hole and it went wide again this time to find Evans on hand to bag his second try. Fifteen minutes to go, Ilkley 18, Billingham 13. This was to be the longest 15 minutes in most Dalesmen supporters’ memory.

Young Gillon had done his bit and done it to no small effect, belying his lack of experience at this level. Tom Hebditch went to the wing and versatile Chris Weatherby took up back row duties.

It was Ilkley who turned on the pressure as Billingham wilted slightly. Hyndman sustained a nasty mouth injury but, to his credit, battled on. A big forward drive through Wright and John Oakes won another penalty.

Shanks again stepped up to the plate to edge his side eight points clear at 21-13.

Ten minutes to go Billingham threw everything at the men in black. Would they crumble, twice? Two scores were required.

It took another six minutes of battering but they eventually crossed the Ilkley line stretching the defence too far and helped by two penalties deep inside the Ilkley half. Full-back Shepherd was the scorer, Hyndman the creator. Pratt earned himself a yellow card in the defensive melee.

There were fully five minutes for the 14-man Dalesmen to hold on. Fingernails were disappearing. Hearts not used to this kind of stress were racing but hold they did to claim a famous victory.

This week the big trek northwards continues with a trip to Carlisle. A win here will put the Dalesmen back in touch with the bottom half of the table.

The pre-match lunch hosts should be thanked for their unwavering support of the club and their guests thanked for their amazing generosity. The pre-match raffle raised over £1,100 for club funds which, after this lean spell without rugby, is badly needed to keep finances on an even keel.

President Ronald Obank was able to tell the guests of the considerable achievements of the club at junior and youth level. This week Matt Grange learned that he is in the final shake out for England Under-16s.

Ilkley Representatives in the Yorkshire XV’s 29-10 win over Cardiff Schools were Dave Duxbury (Head Coach), try scorer Robert Rekis, Jake Duxbury, who kicked two conversions, and Lewis Chick Ilkley Representatives in the Yorkshire A team’s 31-24 win over North Wales were Jason Billows and Chad Shepherd (lead Coaches) and try scorerss Alfie Chapman and Luke Kopelciw while Danyall Ahmed also played.