Magee Shines In Dominating Team Win Over Penrith

There’s Champagne and then there’s Krug: there are Full-backs and then there’s Ben Magee, who not for the first time showed an appreciative crowd what an asset he is, not only to his Club, but to the wider rugby-loving public.

Magee was the brightest star in the constellation that is the Ilkley back line, scoring two of his side’s eleven tries on the day, but also popping the scoring pass on three other occasions. Harry Harrison notched another hat-trick, fellow centre Matty Sheard scored two, as did Blake Morgan. Wingers Will Martindale and Harry Taylor bagged one apiece.

All images courtesy of Peter & Cecile Clarke at Ruggerpix.

So, a stroll in the park for the backs, but what of the forwards? Well, as the old adage goes, the forwards win you the game and the backs determine by how many - so true, as the Ilkley eight put their bodies on the line throughout the match, despite being pitted against a considerably bigger Cumbrian outfit.

Penrith competed throughout and fully deserved their two second-half tries via centre Harley Johnson and lock Scott Lancaster, both scores coming after relentless pressure close to the home goal-line. Full-back Nick Dudson converted both.

The visitors were dominant for the first ten minutes of the match, with just about 100% possession, in similar fashion to last week’s game at Middlesbrough, but on 12 minutes, Ilkley won a line in their own half, Charlie Morgan threw out an outrageous long pass and there was Harrison on hand for a 50m dash for the first score of the afternoon.

The second came just 5 minutes later, as Harrison finished another sparkling move initiated by Charlie Morgan at stand-off and involving Magee. The kick was good - 12-0.

Then in rapid fashion, brother Blake at scrum-half picked up a stray ball when a Penrith maul went wrong and dashed a full 70m for the score. Five minutes later, a trademark Magee break put him in for his second - 24-0.

Penrith roared back and got over the Ilkley line, but were held up. Back they came and a penalty was earned, along with a yellow card for Magee to add a bit of spice to the proceedings. How would the Dalesmen cope in the ten minutes of the half remaining?

Pretty well, actually. Ed Brown came on for Morgan at scrum half and a training ground line-out move worked wonders, Jamie Slator’s pass finding Charlie Morgan, who’s magnificent break led to the first of Matty Sheard’s brace.

Penrith looked shell-shocked as a switch from left to right in midfield gave Sheard another sniff of glory, adroitly taken. Brown converted both and Ilkley were 38 points ahead as half-time finally arrived.

Having scored twice with 14 men, Magee’s return to the fray could only improve matters still further and it didn’t take long for Harrison to get his third, converted by Morgan.

To their credit, Penrith rolled up their sleeves and were rewarded with their first try and conversion to make it 45-7 with Lancaster from close range.

Stung by this brief resurgence, Ilkley returned to the attack and when Magee got the ball on the half-way line, he immediately resumed his virtuoso performance, touching down under the sticks - 52-7 with the kick sailing over.

The visitors were not quite done through and with perhaps a show of some over-confidence, Ilkley lost the ball and were punished by Johnson’s try after pressure from the pack.

With 20 minutes to go and with the score at 52-14, would Ilkley take their foot off the gas? A resounding no was the answer. First up for the finale was a classic three-quarters movement, finished by Martindale on the left wing, followed five minutes later by a yellow for Penrith for a trip and yet another solo effort from Magee. 64-14.

Taylor rounded off the scoring with a try in the corner after a kick and chase.

After this exhibition, a standing ovation was called for and delivered. Rarely has an Ilkley side looked this good and credit should be heaped not only on the 18 players, but also the coaching staff, in particular the forwards’ coach, Tom Hicks, as whilst this pack is little changed from last season, it is performing so much better in all aspects of the game.

The win puts Ilkley at the top of the league, on points difference over Heath, who are also unbeaten this season. The Halifax team beat Ilkley’s next opponents, Blaydon on Saturday, but the trip to the Tynesiders plastic pitch will not be an easy one for the Dalesmen.

However, on the back of this performance, a third away win of this campaign is very much on the cards and the Champagne moment of the match? According to the Penrith skipper at the post-match boat race, “the final whistle” - now that IS a compliment!

Sean Crannigan