Ilkley 13 Old Crossleyans 20

A re-arranged league match at Easter, the remnants of winter still in the air and a good crowd boosted by a vocal contingent from Halifax provided the setting for what turned out to be a really entertaining and enjoyable game of rugby.

Both teams already knew their fate as far league rugby goes next season. Crocs merely wanted to finish as high up the table as possible. Ilkley, already in bottom spot, were playing for pride.

Neither side gave any sign of complacency or resignation. This was a full-on encounter which could have gone either way until the last ten minutes when Crocs put two scores between them and the Dalesmen. Earlier in the year Ilkley had returned from Crocs battered and beaten by 58-17 so this home tie was set to be somewhat cathartic.

Referee Mr Max Barnard, a young man with considerable promise in the hierarchy of referees, was receiving his third assessment of the season to further his ambitions as a whistleblower.

As a 17-year-old he had a knee rebuilt which curtailed a playing career of considerable promise and so, anxious to stay in the game, he turned to officiating. This he has done with some aplomb and authority, though with so many experienced and older heads on the field, he was influenced on the odd occasion by what he heard rather than what he saw.

Nonetheless he looks likely to enjoy a successful career in refereeing. It is people of Mr Barnard’s ilk that the RFU wishes to encourage to take up the noble art.

The game opened in fine style with Ilkley looking the part. A delicate chip from Shepherd put them five metres from Crocs’ line but the line-out was lost. A good recovery turned the ball back Ilkley’s way and there was Mr Barnard to award an eminently kickable penalty. Peter Shanks obliged. Ilkley 3, Crocs 0.

The game ebbed and flowed, punctuated by penalties but with some stirring stuff from both sides. The Ilkley scrum was firm and solid, in contrast to the torrid time they had endured in the away tie. Dan Wright, a tower of strength, was making the hard yards and was unlucky to be held up inches short of the line. Then it was Crocs’ turn to batter Ilkley’s line but great defence and a turnover kept them out.

Back came the Dalesmen with another fantastic turnover on half-way which earned Shanks another shot at goal from the 22, wider out this time. It drifted just wide of the posts.

Crocs were back in Ilkley’s 22. A penalty, a line-out, three or four drives and then out slickly to the talkative generalissimo fly-half Chris Jones, who found a hole in the defence to go in under the posts. He stroked the conversion over to put his side in front 7-3. That was the score at half-time.

Phil Howell succumbed to injury to be replaced by the hard running Joe Spencer. Just how hard this promising utility back can run was demonstrated as he thundered into the fray with a charge that knocked his tackler clean out, so much so that the unwelcome presence of an ambulance was called for to remove the injured player to hospital for precautionary checks.

Thankfully he was released that evening, much to relief of everyone concerned. Rugby is a game of big hits. Occasionally one does more than just inflict pain. Thankfully they are rare occurrences. The after shock in Crocs ranks set them back and Ilkley maintained pressure on their line. Dan Wright charged again only to stopped inches short. He laid the ball back beautifully for Nick Heron to pick up and score. Shanks was off target again but the Dalesmen had a precious one point lead, 8-7.

Moments later it was Ilkley whose concentration lapsed. First a penalty was conceded at a scrum on half-way. Ten metres were added for disputing the call. The penalty, now eminently kickable was slotted well by Jones to snatch back the lead. Crocs 10, Ilkley 8.

Now it was the Dalesmen’s turn to hit back. Some great Ilkley play. They forced Crocs into an error on their own 22. They won a scrum 15 metres out. That produced a penalty in front of goal which Shanks converted to restore the lead. Ilkley 11, Crocs 10.

The final quarter was unrelenting in intensity, both sides showing steely determination to close out the game.

Ilkley’s defence was stretched. They crept off-side, despite Mr Barnard’s warnings. The seemingly obligatory penalty followed a big hit by Spencer.

Jones delivered once again and Crocs were ahead 13-11. Back came Crocs and, with a series a free balls inside Ilkley's 22, they squeezed a try in the corner. Lock Chris Wood was on hand to take the scoring pass and barge his way through Ilkley’s stretched defensive lines.

Jones put the mockers on an Ilkley response by slotting the kick from the touchline to put two scores between the sides. Crocs 20, Ilkley 11.

The final ten minutes saw Ilkley throw everything they had at recovering the game. They sent on Callum Gillon and Paul Petchey but there was no reward and another winnable game slipped away from them.

The league table now looks interesting with Pontefract in the mix to join Ilkley and Gateshead in the relegation slots.

Ponte going down would raise the possibility of a Yorkshire club being asked to participate in Northumberland and Durham league one next season. Then it becomes a postcode lottery. Watch this space!

This week Ilkley have their last home fixture in league North One East with Hartlepool Rovers as the visitors. It may just be the last league fixture looked down upon from the present grandstand and hosted in the present clubhouse.

The fate of the project to redevelop now lies with Sport England who seem hell bent on making the club sweat it out having postponed a vital meeting by one month until mid-May. The club remain optimistic that work will begin this summer.