Dazzling Ilkley Dominate With 8-Try Win

Stacks Field has rarely looked so resplendent, the green sward basking in early Autumn sunlight and eagerly awaiting the first belated home match of the season.

After their disappointing trip to the seaside last week, the Dalesmen certainly had something to prove and this they did with aplomb, putting on a dazzling performance that left their visitors reeling and their supporters wondering where that had all come from.

Well a lot had come from a rejuvenated pack that played out of its skin, once it had weathered Scunthorpe’s swift and aggressive start. The first robust ten minutes yielded nothing to concern the scoreboard, but when the visitors prevented release after a tackle, Louis Anderson slotted the goal to put his side 3 points ahead.

Scunthorpe were straight back into the fray though and fullback Josh Lugsden chipped over the onrushing Ilkley defence and won the race to touch down wide out left, leaving their kicker Will Dark a difficult conversion, which however did go over and Ilkley were behind.

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Another score by the visitors five minutes later from stand-off Ethan Taylor had a whiff of controversy about it as the ball looked to have gone forward twice in the build up, but referee Mr Debeaux had no hesitation in awarding the try and Dark rubbed it in a little more with another successful kick - 3-14 now.

Ilkley were now looking a tad ragged and lost a couple of their own lines, despite having defended well, but on their next attack, the game changed completely as their pack took control with just 12 minutes of the half remaining. Firstly, a ferocious drive led to a penalty try and a yellow to the visitors and then over went Fin Southcott almost straight from the kick-off. Anderson converted both and Ilkley led 17-14.

There was just time for Ilkley to capitalise again on their numerical superiority and more excellent forward play took them over the goal line for a pushover try, awarded to Jamie Slator. Anderson couldn’t miss and the Dalesmen retreated for a cuppa 24-14 ahead.

The second half didn’t start well with the kick-off going straight into touch, but no matter, as Scunthorpe had no answer to Ilkley’s aggressive defence and when a penalty was won, Charles Morgan put his kick just ten metres out and from the resultant line-out, a catch and drive and a try for hooker, Ollie Ham - 31-14 after the successful kick.

Then it was the backs’ turn to show what they were capable of and who better to show how it’s done than Ben Magee, following a well-won scrum and a break on the blindside by the full-back. A big hand-off and under the posts. Five minutes later there was a repeat performance and with Anderson seemingly infallible, Ilkley’s lead had stretched to 45-14 and they were cruising.

The next score came following a sublime floated pass from Morgan, which found Toby Cole on the wing to touch down for Ilkley’s eight and last try of the match. Anderson’s attempt was his only miss of the day from nine kicks at goal.

Still with 12 minutes to go, Scunthorpe to their credit did work their socks off to get something from the game, but for most of the time remaining, Ilkley were in no mood to concede again. However, a last penalty to the visitors was rifled to Ilkley’s five-metre line and from the rolling maul, the ball reached the safe hands of Dark and over how went in the corner, for Scunthorpe’s first score for an hour. A yellow for Ilkley’s Ed Finch didn’t matter at all, as Mr Debeaux blew for no-side when Dark’s kick was sliced, leaving the final score 57-19

So, a highly satisfactory afternoon for the Dalesmen, who face their old enemy Sandal next week at home next week. The Wakefield side lost by two points at North Ribblesdale, so will no doubt be anxious to make amends. Ilkley however are going to be very hard to beat if they can continue this form, especially with such a pleasingly dominant performance from their scrum.