Bradford & District | Archive | 2002 | September | 26
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 26th Sep 2002.
Ilkley 15, Ripon 20: A perfect September afternoon welcomed a good crowd and opponents Ripon to Stacks Field for this Powergen Cup fixture. Having been edged narrowly at Ripon in the league Ilkley were keen to get their season back on the rails with a victory.
Whilst league points are all important a good run in the cup can prove a fillip to the club. Regretfully this is not to be the season. But it was close and Ilkley could easily have sneaked a victory had one or two kicks gone over and had the referee spotted a deliberate knock-on by Ripon.
As last week the black and reds started strongly with good ball won they took the game into the blues half. They were rewarded with two early chances but both penalties were a fraction wide perhaps affected by the tricky cross wind. After ten minutes of sustained pressure another penalty was awarded with Ripon spoiling Ilkley's ball on the ground for the third time. Cadman made no mistake and his side looked good for their early lead.
Then, for no apparent reason, the Ilkley concentration lapsed and it was Ripon who were looking to square the game from 35 metres out in front after an Ilkley player had entered a maul from the wrong side. The kick was wide and Cadman cleared long into touch.
The enterprising Ripon full-back Whitaker took a quick throw and set up a great counter, first down the right, then out left. Cadman again cleared well but again Ripon came back through Bannister. He brought play intelligently back to his forwards. Their passing was perfect and the other Whitaker crossed. The points were added and Ripon led 7-3.
Ilkley came back and another penalty attempt was just wide but it was Ilkley's turn to step up the pressure. Kelley lost the ball in the tackle and Ripon broke well only to be pulled back for crossing. Ilkley neatly put the penalty kick 15 metres out into touch.
They won the ball well in the line, drove on and then smartly moved the ball out missing inside centre, to Merkin and Kelley who found Gilbert coming on a storming run round the outside.
Gilbert is nigh unstoppable with a full head of steam and he shook off the despairing tacklers to touch down in the corner. The conversion was wide but Ilkley had the one point advantage.
No sooner did Ilkley have their noses in front than the advantage was cruelly snatched from them. A midfield mistake allowed centre Borchard to break only to duck low into a tackle from Ilkley No 8 McDonald. He was adjudged to have tackled high although it must have been at his own waist height and caused no injury to the player. However referee Mr Munro gave the penalty in front and Ilkley were again behind at 10-8.
It was now nip and tuck. Ilkley looked as though they could come back but fell victim to some good play followed by inexplicable mistakes which put them back under pressure just when a break out looked on. Merkin and Moffatt were prominent in both aspects showing touches of class in attack but just not putting the final act in place. Gilbert on the other hand was called on to defend resolutely as Ripon countered.
Half-time saw Noble on for Wade and Tim Barley on for Coughlin. Barley was making his debut following his close season signing from York RI.
The second-half began with Barley in the action probing and keeping up the good service to Cadman which had been a feature of young Coughlin's game. Ripon took advantage of a loose ball to send winger Bland in to make it 15-8.
Now Ilkley would have to find something special but instead they conceded more penalties. Ilkley then fell victim to what has become one of their own specialities as they went further behind when the blues got their line-out rumble going. The try was as good as you will see at this level. It was 20-8 now and it looked like a mountain to climb.
Veteran Hems was introduced to the fray for the tiring McDonald. Barley launched an attack but the ball was lost in the tackle. Then Gilbert fed Merkin only for the same result. In his frustration Merkin punched the ground rather close to the defender's head and was sin-binned for ten minutes. A man down was the last thing Ilkley needed at this stage.
Ilkley defended tigerishly and, in fact, began to look the stronger with Barley and Fowler leading the charge. Good ball was won in the lines. The backs were well supplied but too many moves broke down in midfield, the final pass not finding the man or the ball lost in the tackle.
Then Ripon countered. They disrupted an Ilkley line and Barley was called on to clear. Ripon were again just held up before the ball was scrambled clear with a brave pass from Barley to Cadman who passed long across the front of the posts to Moffatt. He did not take cleanly first time but picked up to make the 22 and fed Kelley.
Kelley then burst through at least three tacklers before reaching Ripon's last line of defence. He span off one then the other to find himself with the line beckoning and a full 40 metres to go. He chose the perfect route and Cadman put the kick away to give Ilkley a fighting chance at 15-20.
This was a tremendous try and it really got the Ilkley crowd roaring their favourites on for a last big push. Attack after attack followed but Ilkley could not find a way through.
One final attack was launched, the Ripon centre yards off-side knocked-on. Surely Mr Munro would award the penalty, but no. Ilkley found themselves going backwards with ball in hand as the final whistle ended their cup campaign. Saturday brings Beverley to Stacks Field for a league game. Kick-off 3 pm.
The second XV continued their points fest with a 70 plus points victory over Bradford Salem. The third XV had their first match of the season with a convincing win over numerically challenged Aireborough second string.
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