Ilkley 8 Malton & Norton 41

Table-topping Malton & Norton demonstrated what it takes to win the league with speed and power This win sealed their title triumph and the opportunity to savour higher league rugby, but the scoreline did little justice to battle-weary Ilkley.

Stacks Field was bathed in sunshine and thronged with a host of voluble supporters delighted to celebrate the North Yorkshire club’s success.

Their play was based around the awesome figure of Ryan Lonsdale, one of the most powerful centres seen in the league for many years.

He doesn’t need his Mohican haircut to stand out. His play does it for him and even the loss of his shorts for a couple of minutes didn’t unduly trouble him.

He is almost unstoppable. With a speedster like Henry Newitt outside him they have proved the best team in the league by a country mile. The rest of the team weren’t bad either!

Ilkley battled hard and nobody experienced a crueller afternoon than Leeds University flanker Ian McCaul.

He has become a well entrenched Ilkley player in his relatively short time with the club.

His integrity and loyalty was amply demonstrated when he agreed to drive up from holiday in Kent for the game only to be asked to play on the wing such is Ilkley's injury crisis.

Of course he did without a complaint but was unfortunate to break his ankle and foot in what looked like an innocuous tackle late in the first half.

He was taken to hospital in some pain and, as a result, the stuffing was fairly comprehensively knocked out of the Dalesmen who had up till that time provided gritty and determined resistance to Malton’s onslaught.

The first half looked like finishing close at 6-3 when a clearance kick missed touch to gift a try to the visitors.

The Dalesmen had, in fact, crossed Malton's line twice in the half both times to be ruled held up.

Such are Ilkley’s injury problems that coach Rhys Morgan came on at scrum half forcing a total reorganisation of the Ilkley team.

Malton found holes that hadn’t previously been there and whilst they found it no easy ride, they racked up four more tries to go on their way out of Yorkshire league One in a blaze of glory.

Ilkley got one back. An outrageous pass out wide from Morgan found Stuart Vincent on the wing.

He danced round one player and passed to Kirk Arundale who scored.

It was really all over by then. Coach Morgan would have been livid had another of his charges made the pass and had it been intercepted, but for now he can savour that moment.

The Ilkley club wish Malton & Norton well in the higher league where they themselves found the going just that bit too hard in those two seasons with the North One East clubs.

If, unlike Ilkley, they can keep their squad together and away from the lure of the cheque books of envious clubs, they will do well.

Ilkley’s thoughts remain with young McCaul and the hopes are for a speedy recovery.

Ilkley have another big game on Saturday, against Dinnington at Stacks Field. Dinnington still need points to overtake Selby for their Yorkshire One salvation.

Coaches and physiotherapists will be working flat out to repair battered bodies for the last push of this disjointed season.

o Last weekend Ilkley under-10s played at the Scarborough Rugby Festival. Ilkley fielded two teams in separate pools. Each pool was made up of sides from across the country. Nine games were played by each of the Ilkley teams over the two days.

Both the Ilkley teams named All Blacks' and Dinosaurs came seventh in their respective pools.

This represented a great effort by the boys as the standard of play was was high.