Ilkley 25 North Ribblesdale 22

This absorbing though at times frustrating and untidy game was a typical Dales derby.

The game swung first in the direction of the men from Settle and back to the Dalesmen.

Ilkley were on top in the vital central part of the game though victory could easily have been ripped away in the closing frantic minutes.. At the very end two kicks from the Dalesmens'’ own line were charged down.

The first from Tom Maclean was fortuitously picked up by the marvellous Pete Small but his desperate kick was charged down too, even more fortuitously going dead to bring an end to the game.

Moments before that heart-stopping moment, Ribb’s Johnny Moimoi had attempted to fling out a pass when, had he continued his searing break, he might well have scored the winning try himself.

In true Ilkley style an 18-8 lead five minutes into the second half was let slip.

Rib got back to 18 - 15 before the Dalesmen edged 25-15 ahead and, with their grip on the game tightening, they saw the visitors get back to 25-22.

With five or six minutes to go, a ten point lead and the ball in their possession inside the Rib 22 there was a need to slow it down, play keep ball and maintain field position.

But that’s not in the Dalesmens'’ psyche. A misplaced kick deep in Ribb’s 22 gifted away possession.

Their strong and fleet-footed backs ran it out from deep.

Ilkley defended well and were relieved to have a line-out on the Ribb 10-metre line.

A short throw to Small at the front would have been the obvious decision.

But no, the long throw wasn’t straight and the horror show was in motion.

Tuli Makaafi was only just back on the field having suffered a yellow card for impeding the Rib chaser as a quickly-taken penalty bounced back off the woodwork to concede a penalty try to get Rib back to 18 - 15.

He had only just been readmitted to the field of play when Ian McCaul suffered the same fate for illegally stopping a Ribb onslaught on his own 22.

Ribb took the scrum option and worked a well-taken try from No8 Mick Carr. This made the score 25-22 and the Dalesmen had to survive ten minutes with 14 men on the park.

It was ironic that Ilkley should finish nervously because their start wasn’t too impressive either.

An Ilkley line-out straight from the kick-off was lost and whipped out wide. Andy Matthews slipped on the wet surface and left a hole for winger Mathew Dakin to sail into and score a first-minute try.

Rib were gifted a couple of penalties and missed one kick at goal before they began to feel the pressure rising from the men in white.

They kicked straight out giving Ilkley a line-out on the 22. Good work by Kirk Arundale won them a penalty and a line-out close in.

A great drive saw them win a penalty in front of the posts which Pete Shanks converted but in doing so pulled a thigh muscle and was forced to leave the field.

Rib missed another penalty goal attempt but kept the pressure on Ilkley. A scrum was illegally wheeled by Ilkley and this time the kick was good to give the visitors an 8-3 lead.

Now the Ilkley colours were hoisted as Ribb began to concede ground and penalties.

The first, from halfway took them to the Rib 22. The second to two metres out. From there the Ilkley pack is deadly and this time the drive was unstoppable as Iain McKenzie claimed the touchdown. Phil Howell obliged with the conversion 10-8.

Ilkley lost prop Josh Cockerham to a sore shoulder allowing veteran Andrew Merkin to come on in the middle of the front row.

Straight after half time Howell added another goal to make it 13- 8. Then big Jon Hutchinson set up McKenzie to score his second after great work by the forwards.

Howell's kick was just wide but his side had a valuable 18-8 lead, and were even looking as though they could take control.

Then Rib replied, probably with more than a little good fortune. From a harmless position just over halfway Ilkley were penalised for offside. Rib knew they had to fashion a score and took the kick quickly.

A speculative kick through Ilkley lines rebounded off the post protector. Makaafi was deemed by to have illegally the impeded the Rib follow-up. The penalty try was awarded and it was 18-15.

As the Dalesmen pressed Simon Smith suffered a bad leg injury forcing drastic reorganisation. Neil Spence came on and McCaul went into centre.

Ilkley stuck to their task as, first skipper Stuart Vincent almost went in, and from the resulting scrum the ball was well worked through several phases and a line-out to put Pete Small in on the left for a great try. Howell’s kick sailed over for a vital ten-point lead.

Then came the bedlam followed by the relief as the Dalesmen celebrated the final whistle.

This week Ilkley entertain high-flying Sheffield (3 m).

The match will be preceded by a lunch to celebrate and thank all the many volunteers who do so much for the club.