Ilkley 5 vs 17 Sandal 28/09/2024
Sandal came into the fixture with a confident stride after a very convincing win over Heath, which certainly sent a message to the league. However, Ilkley were ready for any challenge after a disappointing loss at Percy Park last week.
Ilkley started the game with some outstanding rugby, with great attacking play from a line-out. Slick hands were shown by both forwards and backs, with some excellent ball retention. The convincing attack led to disciplinary errors from Sandal, allowing Charles Morgan to find touch 5 metres from the try line. Ilkley’s line-outs have looked impressive so far this season, with Ollie Ham and Pete Erskine calling the shots. The line-out was good, which resulted in another penalty for Ilkley due to contact in the air from Sandal. Touch was found again, and the line-out led to a driving maul with great momentum. The shove got the ball over the line but was just held up.
Ilkley showed good resilience in defence against Sandal's attack, forcing them to kick to escape danger on multiple occasions. Great scramble defence also led to a classic Jack Maplesden turnover with a “jackal.”
Morgan found touch for Ilkley to set up another driving maul. Ilkley showed a great push and spread the ball to the left wing. No luck out wide, so they tried going through the middle with Harry Harrison, but he was tackled 5 metres short. Tom Dickinson then made a break through the middle and offloaded to Jack Maplesden, who spun out of multiple tackles. Unfortunately, the attack ended with Sandal stripping the ball and clearing for touch.
Fifteen minutes into the first half, Sandal made an early change with a prop forward. Ilkley looked convincing, to say the least.
Ilkley continued with more great attacking work. Their hands looked very silky and quick. Multiple penalties in a row in favour of the Dalesmen showed more relentless attacking play, but there were no points yet to show for it. The ball was unfortunately fumbled forward, handing possession back to Sandal and leaving Ilkley scoreless after hammering the Sandal try line.
Sandal had some good time on the ball in the last quarter of the half but, like Ilkley, didn’t have anything to show for it. Ilkley’s impressive defence was again on point, making life difficult for the Sandal attack.
Sandal visited Ilkley’s 22 for the first time in the game, which came through a scrum in their favour. Sandal played very narrow “one-up” rugby, sending their big forwards into contact. The Sandal scrum-half made a dart to the line and fed a forward, who scrambled over the line with Ilkley defenders holding on. Despite the extra weight of the Ilkley players, the ball was slammed over the try line. The fly-half added the extras, 0-7 with 38 minutes gone.
Ilkley responded with a line-out on the 22-metre line to set up another driving maul. Ilkley then went wide and found a blistering Harry Harrison, who went through the middle but was tackled short of the line. A penalty advantage saw Charles Morgan kick wide for Matty Smith, who gathered the ball but dropped it over the line. A kick to touch from the penalty saw another maul but it was held up. The referee brought the half to an end, leaving the Ilkley players feeling deflated after showing great attacking play but trailing as they headed into the changing rooms.
Early in the second half, Sandal earned a penalty. After a quick tap-and-go, Joe Lowes was sent to the sin bin for tripping the attacking player. Two minutes into the second half, and the skipper was in the bin for 10.
Ilkley sustained more pressure on their line through a couple of Sandal scrums. Ilkley attempted to clear their lines but were charged down. The Sandal player then dropped the ball over the line, resulting in an Ilkley goal-line drop-out. A get-out-of-jail-free card clearly played by Ilkley.
A breakdown in play followed as Ilkley bodies lined the pitch for some much-needed physio attention—a true testament to their commitment in defence to stop a Sandal score.
Ilkley regained possession from Sandal on their own 22-metre line. Jack Maplesden’s experience and quick wit led him to clear the line. Willem Johnson and Charles Morgan led the chase to a lone Sandal player, tackling him on the opposing 22. Sandal scrambled to kick, which was charged down, landing in danger-man Harry Harrison’s hands. He put the gas on and massively outpaced the forward on the wing, then found a charging Matty Sheard on the inside, who ran it home and dived over the line. Charles Morgan missed the extras. 5-7 with 60 minutes played.
Sandal quickly responded to this score and were awarded a penalty for a player not rolling away. On the 22-metre line, in front of the posts, it was a routine kick for the Sandal 10. 5-10 with 70 minutes gone.
From the kick-off, the Sandal 15 made a bursting break from the mark. A kick to the corner was chased by the Sandal left winger, who gassed down the wing and got on the end of the ball. A straightforward sprint to the corner, and the try was scored. The Sandal 10 added the two from wide, 5-17.
Ilkley looked to come out of the blocks from the returning kick-off and applied pressure inside the Sandal 22-metre line. Penalties in favour of Ilkley allowed them to continue denting the Sandal defensive line. A series of 27 phases showed again how good Ilkley’s ball retention was, but also highlighted the impressive defensive efforts from Sandal. Sandal were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty, allowing them to tap the ball and kick it into touch to bring the game to an end.
Ilkley will be disappointed not to get more from this game given their great attacking work. A break in fixtures next week will allow them to come together and plan for what comes next.
Harry J. Smith
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