Carlisle 42 Ilkley 7

The euphoria of the victory against Billingham the previous week soon wore off as second to bottom Carlisle dished out what looks on paper like a thrashing to the Dalesmen.

The uncertainty of a 10am pitch inspection and a coach trip up the M6 was probably not the best of ways to prepare, but that’s life in North One East.

This was a salutary reality check but, in fact, wasn’t that bad a display. Two late tries coming from loose ball as the Dalesmen threw everything at trying to salvage something from the game gave Carlisle 14 points they perhaps weren’t entitled to have scored.

Yes, they were the better side on the day, particularly in the first-half, and thoroughly deserved their badly needed victory but they weren’t that much better. In fact, in the second- half before the two gifted tries right at the end of the match, they had been in Ilkley’s 22 only three times - twice to come away with penalty goals and once to be turned over for an Ilkley counter-attack.

A warm and generous welcome always awaits the visitor to Carlisle’s well appointed and functional facilities, rebuilt after the great floods that overwhelmed the town in 2005. A small band of Ilkley supporters made the trip to learn that their opponents had resigned former star player Lewis Boyd, who had returned from a sojourn at Fylde and Kendal.

Ben Blain was at scrum-half giving the home side a full strength side for the second week, having beaten Hartlepool Rovers away the week before. Combining the skills and power of Boyd with the direct running of centre Chris Harris, who had delivered the sucker punch in Ilkley’s home encounter with the Cumbrians, and you have a very potent combination. It was this that really made the difference on the day.

The pitch was perfect. The weather equally perfect, but a nithering breeze meant that spectators needed to be well wrapped up against the cold. The Dalesmen started brightly enough with Chad Shepherd pushing Carlisle to concede a line-out just ten metres out.

Good Ilkley phases followed but the seemingly inevitable penalty was coughed up just when the home defence was creaking. A Carlisle line-out still inside their own half was well won and Chris Harris charged on to a great ball from deep to breach Ilkley’s 22. It was well defended but in the end Carlisle had a penalty almost in front of goal.

Glen Weightman stepped to what looked like a formality. He shanked it and hit the upright and cross bar for the ball to bounce back to the onrushing Carlisle players. The charge was stopped just short, then another was held up over the line. From the scrum Ben Blain saw an opening and over he went for an unconverted try.

Perhaps the penalty goal would have been a better outcome as the Dalesmen appeared stunned by this setback. A further try followed as a well-driven line-out set Lee Brumpton up for a try. This was converted as Weightman found his kicking boots.

The Dalesmen were 12-0 behind with 15 minutes gone. This meant they were now chasing the game and couldn’t find the same gears as they worked in the previous week.

A period of Ilkley pressure followed but they were unable to find any holes in a solid and very tenacious Carlisle defence. Add in some poor decision making and a high penalty count and the opportunities, so hard won, soon disappeared.

Carlisle added a penalty goal after 25 minutes and then, probably the try of the match from Ilkley’s tormentor Harris who chipped over the Ilkley defence, raced through to collect his kick and bagged his 11th try of the season to give his side a comfortable 22-0 lead.

Hamish Pratt, leading as always by example, goaded his men back into action. They won a penalty on their own 22. Shepherd’s kick was a belter, right to Carlisle’s 22. The line-out was well won by the dependable Dan Wright. A penalty was given under the posts but with 22 points to reel in they took it short. Pratt took a nicely weighted pass out wide to bullock over for a try. Peter Shanks converted to give the Dalesmen a fighting chance of pulling this one out of the fire in the second-half.

Simon Smith, the man looking the most likely to break the robust defensive lines which must have seemed a bit like Hadrian’s Wall to the marauding Dalesmen, succumbed to a troublesome shoulder. Tom Hebditch took his place on the wing as Ilkley juggled their back line.

A scrum on half-way took Carlisle into Ilkley’s 22. An error forced Ilkley to infringe and concede a penalty just when another score was least welcome so it was 25-7.

Ilkley then enjoyed a purple patch of 15 minutes almost constant pressure when phase after phase was repelled by this outstanding Carlisle defensive effort. The Ilkley pressure was soaked up. It was all too one-dimensional. With the occasional indiscretion added into the mix and Carlisle were able to survive unscathed.

A scrum on half-way produced a repeat performance of 15 minutes earlier, Weightman taking the score out of reach to 28-7 with his side's second visit of the half to Ilkley’s 22.

Back went Ilkley but there was no way through despite their best efforts to restore respectability and pride. Then came the two pieces of loose play which conceded the two breakaway tries but by that time the game was gone anyway.

There was no rugby again on a frozen Stacks Field meaning that the second XV was inactive again. This is not good for continuity and commitment. Players want to play. It is equally problematic for club revenues which have taken a real hammering this recent cold spell.

It is ironic that in the season that leagues have been expanded (in the case of Ilkley’s North One East from 12 to 14 clubs) we have endured the coldest winter for years and there is likely to be a significant backlog of fixtures come the end of the season. The competition organisers at Twickenham and elsewhere are faced with a significant problem.

The club’s development project continues to progress, albeit slowly. Final submissions have been made to Sport England. They were submitted within the deadlines set by Sport England. The Club secretary took them by hand to the Leeds office.

Despite the timely actions of the club, incredibly, it will now take Sport England until April 19 to make their decision. Whilst frustrating for the team who have worked so hard to meet deadlines it seems this is the way Sport England works. The club remains optimistic of a successful outcome.