York 7 Ilkley 18

York has never been a happy hunting ground but on Saturday the Dalesmen proved their doubters wrong as they secured their fifth win in six games to continue their climb up the Yorkshire One table.

It is amazing what a good run can do for confidence and the addition of a reliable goalkicker since York triumphed at Stacks Field in October has made a big difference.

The Dalesmen were without stand-off Phil Howell and lock Pete Small, but there was some excitement about the debutant flanker Ian McCaul who had shone in the seconds the previous week. He wasn’t about to disappoint.

The morning snow had fallen as wet sleet in York so a good pitch was slippery on top. The Dalesmen turned the conditions to their advantage and took the Minster-men’s pack on up front.

A wet ball also made handling among the backs more difficult and but Ilkley's “in your face” defence managed to restrict York’s opportunities.

Their main threat came from speedy winger Charlie Nicholson but Ilkley stuck to their task. One tackle by winger Tuli Makaafi on York’s Liam Watkins was said by some to be the best tackle ever seen by an Ilkley player.

Thankfully both got up from the hit but it was Makaafi who seemed to come off worse. He was brave enough to see the game out though apparently slightly dazed.

The Dalesmen swept into battle with a vengeance but conceded a penalty for holding on in a strong position.

York escaped to halfway but were turned over and Tim Barley broke to feed Hamish Pratt then Kris Stafford who was stopped just short. He set the ball well for McCaul to dive over for a try five minutes into his Ilkley career. The deadly Peter Shanks added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Almost immediately they were back in York territory and a great drive off a well-won line-out was pulled down. Shanks stepped up for another three points.

The Dalesmen then went through a flat period which saw Barley lucky to avoid a yellow card as he conceded a penalty bang in front of the posts on the 22.

Full back John Dawe pushed his kick wide and Ilkley had another let off when Nicholson looked to be through with the ball at his feet but his final hack on was too strong and the ball went dead.

Back came the Dalesmen with some good pressure, mainly off set pieces. Their line-out and driven ball were particularly effective.

Kirk Arundale broke to set up a scoring opportunity which ended somewhat ignominiously with a lame drop goal attempt.

York responded with a period of intense pressure using the line-out and drive but it was defended effectively.

Eventually Ilkley took control again. They won a line-out on the York 22 and played out through Tom Maclean, Pratt and skipper Stuart Vincent, to Stafford who looked set for his second try until he was bundled into touch.

From the resulting scrum York were caught in goal. Ilkley had a five-metre scrum but execution at the back was poor.

York’s scrum was turned. Ilkley had another, then a free kick. The maul was formed and from nowhere young Maclean decided to steal the Pratt show and charged in to take the ball and barge over for the try. Shanks’ kick was off target but 15-0 looked a comfortable lead at half-time.

However the Dalesmen now faced the slope and the added venom of the frustrated York coach who was urging his team to greater things.

It was the Dalesmen who got the perfect start, however, as Shanks slotted another penalty from the 22 to give the Minstermen three scores to find, 18-0.

No Ilkley game is complete without a wobble and wobble they did. But their new-found mental toughness enabled them soak up whatever York threw at them.

It was fortuitous York chose not to play their wide game.

Make no mistake this Ilkley side can defend as they did for fully 20 minutes.

Finally the siege was broken as first a free kick then a full penalty and three rare missed tackles allowed Dawe to break through for a try which he converted to reduce the arrears to 18-7.

The crowd and the coach now wanted more from the home side and his men responded. A heated moment saw all 30 players and the York coach arguing over some minutiae in the law book which resulted in two players, one from each side, being singled out for token yellow cards by referee Flynn.

The Dalesmen had to endure a further period of York pressure but there was no way through albeit there were a few tense moments.

Eventually Ilkley fought their way out of trouble and ended the game pressing York’s line after Maclean got within a whisker of scoring.

This was a well- deserved victory fashioned with grit and determination and that important ingredient, confidence.

The performance was a credit to all 16 who took the field and to the two subs not used, Callum Gillon and Chris Chapman but who showed dignity and good spirit despite not getting game time.