Disciplined Centurions Dispatch Pythons

Ilkley Centurions 82 – 3 Harrogate Pythons 2nds

A very busy and resplendent Stacks Field greeted Harrogate Pythons as Ilkley hosted a league double header. The conditions were perfect: beautiful sunshine, not a breath of wind, and a pitch that looked like the green baize at the Crucible.

The large Harrogate pack didn’t look particularly enthusiastic about proceedings. In fact, with the sun beating down, sun cream appeared far more appropriate than Vaseline.

Harrogate started brightly, forcing an early penalty. Their chirpy scrum half stepped up and duly dispatched the ball towards the cannabis skateboard park.

Ilkley were stunned into action.

With a game plan based on running rugby at every opportunity, the ball was moved quickly and frequently into the hands of the highly impressive centre pairing of Joe Ambler and debutant Oscar Whitehead. The pair would dazzle throughout the afternoon, producing some of the best tries seen on the back pitch this season.

Strongly supported line breaks repeatedly tore through the Harrogate defence, resulting in a procession of quality tries.

The pick of the bunch was a superb backs move that released Dougie Burn one on one with his opposite winger. One perfectly executed body swerve left the defender requiring medical assistance as Dougie raced around him.

Another came from yet another devastating centre break, with Ambler burning up the grass before being tap tackled just short of the line. Showing great awareness, he produced a beautiful offload to his supporting protégé, Whitehead, who dotted down under the posts.

Snowden was deadly with the boot, with every kick sailing directly between the posts.

The only downside came when Lockyer, sprinting down the wing and seemingly coasting towards his hat trick, pulled up lame as his hamstring finally gave way.

At 49–3 at half time, the game was effectively over. However, the Centurions deserve huge credit for maintaining their concentration, discipline and shape throughout the second half.

They relentlessly hammered Harrogate backwards in the tackle and continued to hurt them with probing, direct running. Sam Hughes led the charge, repeatedly opening up the game with powerful carries.

There were two standout moments in the second half.

First came a superb defensive effort to prevent Harrogate scoring from a rolling maul. The Centurions showed tremendous commitment, with stand off Lambert driving in to help force the maul into touch.

Then came the gold award, captured brilliantly on a spectator’s phone.

An Ilkley scrum five metres from their own line was spun wide to Whitehead. From around 15 metres out, the debutant then embarked on a remarkable full length of the pitch run, powering through and around defender after defender. Showing pace, balance and composure, he eventually crossed for his hat trick.

Quite a way to announce yourself.

The game eventually ended early as the white towel was thrown onto the pitch. The Centurions had completely knocked the stuffing out of Harrogate, who, to their credit, battled hard to stem the tsunami that had hit them.

Next week sees a top of the table clash as the pirates from Whitby sail into Stacks Field. It will be a considerably tougher examination, with first team opposition expected to provide a very different challenge.

But the Centurions are playing some seriously good rugby at the moment, attractive, ambitious and, most importantly, together.

Ted Rogers 3 2 1 Awards

🥇 3 points: Oscar Whitehead

A dream debut, capped by a hat trick and that sensational length of the pitch try.

🥈 2 points: Joe Ambler

A constant threat in the centre, providing power, pace and a superb assist for Whitehead.

🥉 1 point: Sam Hughes

Led the charge with powerful direct running and repeatedly put Harrogate on the back foot.

Well played, gentlemen!