Sport was the winner as Ilkley reached a Twickenham final The heroics of the players, both those who started and those who came on from the bench, were the defining influences on a wonderful day for Ilkley Rugby Club and their supporters, for the splendid new Stacks Field stadium and for the Yorkshire rugby community.

How the match unfolded is dealt with in the main report but well done Ilkley and bad luck Stoke.

Both sides gave their all in an exciting, full-blooded epic of a semi-final in the most important competition at this level of rugby in the country – a massive prize was at stake and there could be only one winner.

In the final analysis, there was another winner – sport, and good sportsmanship is in the best traditions of rugby union.

Ilkley’s preparations had been meticulous, and the ground looked a picture.

Catering and bar staff were in place early ahead of the arrival of the coachload and many carloads of Stoke supporters.

There was some tremendous pre-match discussion, and not a little friendly ban-ter.

Warm handshakes and sin-cere best wishes were liberally dispensed by both sets of supporters to one another before the game.

Friends from many other clubs in Yorkshire turned up to give the Ilkley side support – Pontefract, Keighley, West Park Leeds, Otley, Otliensians, Modernians, and no doubt many others, were spotted on the terraces.

The new pavilion, full to capacity, played its part too, and the noise that greeted the home players onto the pitch was unprecedented.

As the game grew to its nail-biting crescendo, those noise levels must have lifted the players to their one last huge throw of the dice to clinch that match-winning try.

It was a tremendous game with intensity, passion, drama, ebb and flow, some great rugby and a climax that could not have been scripted better – at least for the victors.

There was no nastiness, no foul play. Yes, referee Mr Vertigan was quick to penalise technical offences but there were no punches thrown.

A huge game for both sets of players was played in the best spirit you could imagine, and after the match the camaraderie from both sides was exemplary.