Ilkley v Percy Park - 21.12.24
After the agonies at Alnwick and with only three points from their last three games, Ilkley were anxious to re-establish some sort of order and with Percy Park having a difficult season, this seemed to be the ideal opportunity to do just that.
However, the Dalesmen’s visit to the North East earlier in the season had ended tragically as a 21-3 lead somehow morphed into a 29-21 defeat and nul points. All to play for then.
Park’s pack looked as huge as it had done back in September, but Ilkley’s much lighter Eight matched them in every department, excepting possibly the line-out - Ilkley losing three of their own to Park’s one. The Dalesmen’s scrummaging was first class.
Ilkley had the best of the initial exchanges, with Ben Magee and Max Jones stretching their legs with a couple of promising runs, but it was Park who struck first, when some uncharacteristically poor tackling allowed Park’s Captain, right wing Howard Stock the freedom of the city as he sliced through to score a very good try under the posts. Paul Spowart’s easy conversion made it 7-0 to the visitors after just 6 minutes.
The lead didn’t last long. Ilkley came straight back on the attack with a Magee clearance kick to the Park 22. An offside decision in Ilkley’s favour presented an eminently kickable penalty chance, but Charles Morgan opted for a scrum. Good choice !
The scrum won, a delicate chip by Morgan over the Park defence rolled into the in-goal area and centre Freddie Clark won the race to touch down. Morgan then made a difficult kick look easy and it was 7-7.
Having won a scrum penalty, Ilkley’s next attack once more featured a chip over the defence by Morgan, who this time caught it himself, setting up Ben Walker for Ilkley’s second. Morgan’s kick was easier this time and he didn’t disappoint. Ilkley were now 14-7 ahead, a lead they were not going lose.
There was just time for a very impressive Ilkley scrum, pushing their opponents off the ball, but the Park defence held and there was no further addition to the scoreboard as Mr. Higgins blew for half time, both sides showing a good turn of speed as they headed for the warmth of the changing rooms.
Magee didn’t make it out for the beginning of the second half, Will Martindale appearing on the wing and Walker moving to full-back.
Ilkley found themselves under the cosh right away and were forced into conceding a succession of penalties. Their defence held for a number of line-outs and scrums before Park finally opted to take the points, Spowart making it 14-10.
For the next 25 minutes Ilkley were just about the better side, but failed to take their chances, despite being awarded a series of 5m scrums and lines, but then came the turning point.
After Park’s umpteenth penalty took them to Ilkley’s 22, crucially they lost their own line and Matty Sheard was able to clear. Magee made a welcome return to the game.
Ilkley’s next attack seemed to be well defended, but the Park centres had crossed and the 3 points on offer were too good to miss. Morgan didn’t and it was 17-10.
Now the Dalesmen moved up a gear and with Park visibly wilting, an exquisite Morgan sidestep set up Clark for his second, followed by another superb conversion, 24-10.
Ilkley were not done yet though and the coup de grace and the try bonus point came when the pack made the most of a sequence of 5m scrums to allow scrum-half Ed Brown to worm his way through a pile of tired bodies. Morgan completed an excellent day’s work by converting, to bring the final score to 31-10 and five points in the bag.
So, a job well done and nicely in time for the season of goodwill. The Dalesmen have a trip to Sandal to look forward to in the New Year, never the easiest place to get a result, but so long as concentration levels stay high and there’s a full 80 minute performance, there’s no reason to think Ilkley can’t take the points.
Happy Christmas !
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