A Game To Savour For Ilkley

Ilkley 1st XV 55pts, Hull 1st XV 34pts, 7th November 2026

Pretty much perfect conditions for running rugby at Stacks Field on Saturday and so it proved, with a try-fest that yielded no fewer than 14 tries, 8 from the Dalesmen and 6 from the visitors. Ilkley also won the kicking game, Louis Anderson notching six conversions and a penalty to his counterpart’s two conversions.

The league’s semi-professionals started like the proverbial train and it took them just 3 minutes to get on the scoreboard, courtesy of some slick handling allowing full-back James Farrar to glide over on the left wing. Harry Gunn-McLean’s conversion attempt was way off mark though.

Ilkley battled back and a try looked on the cards following a magnificent run by Charles’s Morgan. Lacking support though, Ilkley had to settle for a penalty on the 22, which Anderson missed. Straight back on the attack after the drop out, flanker Cameron Briggs picked up a loose ball and easily evading some poor tackling, touched down under the posts. Anderson didn’t miss this time and it was 7-5 to Ilkley.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Match photos courtesy of Peter & Cecile Clark at Ruggerpix. See more photos here.

A knock-on from the kick off didn’t help Ilkley’s cause and things went from bad to worse as a penalty was conceded at the scrum and Hull found themselves 5m from the Ilkley line. A text-book catch and drive led to Hull’s Captain, Ali Heard touching down, Gunn-McClean adding the extras.

Another searing break by Morgan took him to within 10m of the Hull line. After two penalties to Ilkley, the ball was quickly recycled from the breakdown and great hands from Morgan and Ben Magee put Harry Taylor over. It was 14-12 to Ilkley with barely a quarter of the match gone.

With Morgan dictating terms, Ilkley got their third try when the stand-off’s long flat pass found Tom Reavey in support. Making some hard yards, the flanker was held up a couple of metres out and Matty Sheard was on hand to scoop up the ball and go over under the sticks. Anderson’s kick made it 21-12.

The bonus point score came after a Hull scrum went to pieces, the ball flying loose. Centre Kieran Wileyman saw his chance and took it well - 28-12 after the kick with half an hour gone.

Ilkley’s backs looked unstoppable now and a trademark run by Magee, a beautifully weighted pass to Harry Smith on the left wing and another successful kick by Anderson put Ilkley 23 points ahead at 35-12.

There was just time for Hull to show they hadn’t come to be mere spectators, as a penalty for a high tackle cost Ilkley a line, well controlled by the Hull pack allowing Charlie Beech to score. Gunn McLean’s second success of the day made it 35-19 as referee Sam Potts blew for half-time.

Whilst Ilkley started the second half well, earning a penalty, they lost two of their own lines in a row and their discipline suffered as a result. A transgression on the half-way line gave Hull the opportunity to kick within 5m and somewhat inevitably, Hull won the line and another of the visitors’ exotically named replacements, Bureta Faraimo claimed the try, the conversion attempt hitting the post.

From the kick-off, Ilkley won a penalty and following some great work by Jack Akiono, Magee took advantage of some loose Hull defence to score. The conversion missed, but they were now 40-24 ahead with half an hour to play.

Their lead increased to 45-24 when Smith bagged his second , courtesy of some slick passing between Magee and Anderson and Hull had their first yellow. Undeterred though, they hit back immediately as a loose ball was picked up, setting up winger Tim Minns for a try, unconverted.

Despite being a man down, Hull attacked aggressively and their efforts were rewarded when yet another line won on the Ilkley 5m line following a penalty, Beech went over for his second.

At 45-34 and with still 12 minutes to go, the Ilkley faithful were shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Hull’s discipline let them down though and another yellow was issued and Anderson kicked the penalty.

Back came the Dalesmen via Magee. A 50m gain after fielding a clearance , a chip ahead and winning the race to touch down and Ilkley were home and dry as Anderson’s majestic conversion finished the scoring for the day.

There was still time for Hull to get their third yellow and also one for Sheard, much to his bemusement, but neither mattered and the game came to an end.

So, a game to savour and a great five pointer for the Dalesmen, moving them up to fourth place. Hull were competitive throughout, but a lack of discipline and poor place kicking undid them. Not to take anything away from Ilkley’s attack though, which was razor sharp.

Ilkley face a resurgent York in two week’s time and an away win would be a welcome fillip at this stage of their season.