Strong Season Continues With Dismantling of Middlesbrough

Ilkley’s formidable start to the season continues apace with a comprehensive dismantling of newly promoted Middlesbrough in conditions that were not quite so bad as they might have been, given the battering the country had experienced during the previous 24 hours.

Four bonus point wins from four outings is the best early season performance the Dalesmen have produced in many a year and this latest one came about as a result of truly outstanding teamwork from 1 to 18.

The home side started very well though, playing at a pace that surely was unsustainable (and so it proved) keeping possession well and no one was surprised when they took the lead with a well worked try by winger Rob Carney after ten minutes, the conversion attempt being one of many kicks stymied by the elements.

Then it was Ilkley’s turn to get some ball, quickly earning a penalty that Louis Anderson pulled wide, but the ball was still in play. Boro attempted to run  it out, but conceded another penalty at the breakdown. Jamie Slator took a quick one and from the breakdown a metre out, a long pass was thrown out to Harry Harrison for his side’s first score, the conversion missing.

Moving smoothly up the gears, Ilkley’s next attack yielded another try for the mercurial Ben Magee after some solid work by Adam Booth and his pack. This time Anderson’s boot added the extras and the Dalesmen took the lead.

The Ilkley eight, this time with Jack Hamilton to the fore, set up their third try, Ollie Ham emerging from the pile-up. Over went the kick and it was 19-5 to Ilkley.

Boro enjoyed a fruitful ten minutes, winning two penalties in quick succession, the second taking them deep into the Ilkley 22. Then, disaster, as their line went Ilkley’s way. Ham threw out a long pass to the backs and Harrison broke out to run the length of the pitch to score under the posts for the bonus point try. Anderson made it 26-5.

Not content to take this lying down, Boro fought back and things got a little feisty. The first yellow was to Boro’s Maloney for a high tackle, followed by one for Ham, taking one for the team for repeated offences at the break down. Boro took full advantage and after a lengthy series of pick and drives, Venoumba Kanguatjivi crashed over. The wind took the conversion attempt wide.

Ilkley nearly scored again straight from the restart, but referee Tom Howard adjudged that there had been a double movement, so the players retreated for their half-time cuppa with the score at 26-10 in Ilkley’s favour.

The second half was all Ilkley. A terrific Hamilton surge won a penalty, duly despatched and then from their own half, Charlie Morgan switched play from right to left, finding Magee and Harrison in support - too much fire power for Boro to cope with and a hat trick for Harrison.

With both sides back to full strength, Ilkley succumbed to two penalties, but pinched possession and broke free, winning a 5m scrum. Magee enters the line at pace and feeds Anderson for Ilkley’s sixth try.

A couple of unforced errors from the visitors gave Boro a glimmer of hope, but in reality, Ilkley looked very comfortable in repulsing whatever was thrown at them and at 39-10, a little scrappiness set in, with players on both sides exhibiting some fatigue.

Ilkley were not done though. Ham touched down in spectacular style for his second after more great work by Hamilton and then Will Martindale latched on to a Charlie Morgan pass after a Boro chip through went horribly wrong.

The final honours went to Max Jones who completed more sterling work from the pack with a rare try and with Anderson converting all three, the score ending 60-10 to Ilkley, with Anderson contributing 20 of them.

This was a tour de force by this Ilkley team and augurs well for a successful season. Every player put in a great shift and Boro simply had no answer to Charlie Morgan’s imperious direction, Magee’s guile, Harrison’s speed and the best performance from an Ilkley pack for a very long time.

The challenge ups pace next week with the visit of Penrith, who have also had a great start to the season, though slipping up at home to Heath on Saturday. Another performance like this one though and it would be a brave man that would not back Ilkley for the win.

Sean Crannigan