Match Report Ilkley v Scunthorpe 30.09.23
Ilkley’s lovely Stacks Field ground in the Wharfedale valley didn’t look its best on this rainy afternoon. The home team got the better of the earlier exchanges and a fine passing move by their back line enabled prop Jamie Slator to score the first, unconverted try. Scunthorpe replied with a Connor Brewster penalty. The visitors launched some spirited forwards attacks but they were unsuccessful because of determined Ilkley defence, and the slippery ball. The lively Ilkley backs produced a penalty for a high tackle and the home stand off, Charles Morgan, made the score 8-3. Both sides found their efforts blunted by the wet conditions and another Morgan penalty was the only further score before half time. Starting the second half 11-3 down, but with the replacements joining the fray, the Greens pressured and, when a defender failed to roll clear in a ruck, Connor Brewster converted the resultant penalty. Hopes of a further Scunthorpe surge were crushed when first Nick Dyson was yellow carded for side entry to a ruck and then from a well worked Ilkley move winger Harry Harrison sliced through the Green cover to score a try converted by Charles Morgan. In spite of having centre Keiran Wilyman sin binned, for ‘killing the ball’ in a ruck, it was the home side that defied the elements to execute a flowing passing move that put replacement Joe Lowes over for another converted try. After more end to end rugby that was exciting but error strewn, the Greens at last upped the pressure with good line outs, driving mauls and rucks. The Ilkley forwards resisted with outstanding determination, but no great respect for the laws, for many phases of play until, finally, a driving Scunthorpe tight scrum tempted an offside that exhausted the referee’s patience and the Greens were awarded a penalty try. Once again hopes of a Scunthorpe revival were dashed as the last ten minutes saw frustration bubbling over. It resulted in some ‘hand bagging‘. The home side, however, focused on getting a try bonus point, put in a great final effort for prop Jamie Slater to show the skills of a centre three quarter to dodge in for the touchdown. Final score 32-16 Last week the Greens produced a great performance. This week they did not. We must work hard to make the former the model for the future.