Magee hat-trick salvages a point for lack-lustre Dalesmen

Alnwick RUFC vs Ilkley RFC, Saturday 17th October 2026, Venue: Greensfield, Alnwick, Result: Alnwick 66pts, Ilkley 26pts

Alnwick are emerging as promotion favourites as the league table, after 4 early season matches, reveal their second place behind unbeaten neighbours Northern. They have failed once to claim try bonus points in winning all their matches. Ironically Ilkley have one more of these precious points but have only won twice. Alnwick remain sore that, had Ilkley not surrendered victory to a way beyond last minute penalty goal at Harrogate last season, they would have been promoted. So do Ilkley!

In this encounter they have the exceptional talents of Ben Magee to thank for saving them total ignominy, as they lost by ten tries to four and a horrible scoreline of 66-26.

The match was 4 minutes old when Rob Cuthbert went over, after a penalty then a line out and drive set up the opening, score 7-0.

Ilkley then showed some real class as they battered Alnwick’s line through several phases both left and right. Alnwick showed that solid defence is as important as class in attack. Suddenly though a ruck under the home side’s posts left the ball loose in no man’s land and giant lock Jack Akiono casually picked up and walked in the equaliser. 7-7. Game on!

Ilkley hit back and, after a late tackle on Magee, they had the Alnwick line under siege. A score looked inevitable but that stubborn Alnwick defence held firm and one small error let Alnwick off the hook.

A series of penalties were conceded and with the Alnwick scrum sensing they had the upper hand it was their turn to pressurise the Ilkley defence. They sent a looping pass out wide and Magee swooped onto it. It was both hands in the air but just one made contact with the ball and referee Archie (sorry Sir, I didn’t get your surname) had no doubt it was deliberate. Magee saw yellow and Alnwick duly scored through Kalvin Inglis. 14-7, 27 minutes played.

As far as Ilkley having any realistic chance of winning the game, that was that.

Three more tries before half time from William Dykes and Alex Robson (2) put the lid on it as a contest. 33-7 at half time left coaches Clithero and Morgan the hardest of tasks to gee their men up.

The opening salvos of the second half were no more encouraging for the small band of Ilkley supporters.

A superb try after a touch of real class produced a try for that man Cuthbert after just 2 minutes. 38-7.

Just as the Ilkley support was decamping towards the bar Ben Magee stepped up.

Seeing space that ordinary mortals can’t, he wove his way virtually untouched to score Ilkley’s second try. 38-12.

Alnwick added another through Ferguson Burn. That millstone 50 points rapidly approached. 45-12.

The undivided attention of the Ilkley faithful was maintained as the excellent Magee was on hand again to glide in for Ilkley’s third and his second score. 45-19.

That 50 point total came and went with three more tries for the Alnwick side with tails up and Ilkley with heads down. The scorers were Inglis (2) and Cuthbert.

The Dalesmen were facing defeat by one of the biggest scores in recent times with Alnwick’s 66 points on the scoreboard. But Magee had the last word. He scored with a blistering run from his own thirty metre line to make Ilkley’s total 26 points, crucially for that 4 try bonus point.

Final score 66-26.

It was a tough introduction to Level 5 rugby for Kit Keith, on loan from Leeds Tykes. Keith stood in manfully at scrum half with an effective contribution to the Ilkley cause. Thanks to Tykes for making him available.

There’s really no excuse for a thumping and finding out what it’s like to be on the wrong side of a big score such as those the Dalesmen inflicted upon Scunthorpe and Sandal. It has to be said that they had six enforced changes from the side that beat Scunthorpe so handsomely, and five changes from last week’s side who put Sandal to the sword in a first half of memorable quality.

This was one to forget or, at least, from which to take lessons.

The long trip home would be a quiet one, for sure.

Meantime at Stacks Field Ilkley Barbarians edged a nail biter against Northallerton 1st XV. The score 31-27.

The Ilkley Centurions again found league rugby against 1st XV’s difficult as they came second to Hessle 1st XV. 55-3 the score. Things will surely get better for these young players.