YMCA encouraged despite Ilkley loss

Jan 29 2008 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

DESPITE the 34-14 scoreline, this was a much-improved performance by YMCA against a side still eyeing the Yorkshire I championship.

Ilkley were undoubtedly the better side, but the final scoreline certainly flattered them as the Laund Hill players pulled together as a team to produce a very entertaining match.

In the face of stubborn resistance, it took Ilkley 22 minutes to breach YM’s line, when flanker McKenzie forced his way over for a try converted by centre Shanks, who was to have a good day with the boot.

YM were not bowed, however, and set about Ilkley, running the ball at every opportunity to bring the best out of the home defence.

Ben Wulff found himself sin-binned on 28 minutes after clearing out an Ilkley player laying in an offside position.

But even with a man down, YM pressed forward, although they were unable to turn the pressure into points and trailed 7-0 at the break.

Shanks landed an early penalty from the re-start and converted his side’s second try, scored by centre Frost who saw a gap and nipped over.

The visitors refused to fold and came back into the game again and were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to break through the Ilkley defence.

However, the power of the Ilkley pack was now playing its part and were increasingly getting the better of YM in the forwards battle, and it wasn’t long before No8 Brewer picked up from the back of a close-range scrum to crash over from three metres, and with Shanks again on target the home side stretched away to lead 24-0.

A flicked pass from a scrum went over the head of YM scrum half Wulff, and his opposite number Bairstow took his chance to pick up the ball and beat the last line of defence to score Ilkley’s fourth converted try.

Gareth Greenwood spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for a shoulder charge which cost YM another three points, but he was followed by Ilkley stand-off Bell who blocked Adam Ryder.

YM never gave up and continued to attack the Ilkley line and were finally rewarded when James Bracken took up the ball, cleverly showed the ball to the oncoming defence and then nipped back inside to leave himself a clear run to the line. Gavin Stead converted and the visitors were on the scoreboard.

Then Bracken was again involved in a move among the backs as he created an overlap for Ryder to go over to the left of the posts, Stead again converting to round off the scoring.

Huddersfield linesman Richard Sykes suffered a triple broken leg following a collision with Lockwood Park full-back Tim Collins and the opposition winger during Saturday’s North I clash with Darlington.

Mr Sykes, who had two breaks in his tibia and one in his fibula, was put in plaster overnight, but had an operation on Sunday morning, and was expected home today.