Stockport 24 Ilkley 39

THIS was a top display by an Ilkley side rejuvenated by recent victories and demonstrates just what they have been capable of all season in National League Three North.

Their victory was emphatic and came from a platform built by a dominant pack in which hooker Nico Nyemba and his young props Dan Lawrence and Josh Cockerham, were outstanding.

They helped win a penalty try and set up a pushover try in the first half and forced another penalty try and a game-clinching penalty kick in the second half to kill off Stockport’s hopes of a late revival.

The Dalesmen started brightly before Stockport came to terms with the wind and cold hands as they scored two tries to establish a 12-0 lead.

Within minutes Ilkley responded with a penalty from Joe Rowntree from the 10-metre line which he drilled into the gale and between the sticks.

This was the start of the Ilkley revival. After going close twice, an Ilkley line-out set up a drive for the line. Held up, the Dalesmen had a five-metre scrum and scored a pushover try.

After Elliot Morgan had set up a good position with a kick from nowhere, Ilkley allowed Stockport’s excellent back row to disrupt the drive and suddenly they were back at half way and conceding penalties.

A line-out 20 metres out produced an unstoppable drive and another try to put Stockport 19-8 up.

Ilkley needed to strike back quickly and they did with a penalty try when their surge from a five-metre scrum was illegally halted.

Gus Ramsey replaced the excellent John Pickersgill at half-time and the wind perversely changed direction to the slight disadvantage of the visitors. It was to make little difference.

The Dalesmen began to show their backs skills with JH Johnson, Magee and Declan Jackson all showing their power and pace. Several good phases of controlled rucking and mauling saw Nyemba go over for the which put Ilkley in front.

Stockport then missed an eminently kickable penalty shot which would have levelled the scores. It took some steam out of the hosts and clearly angered some of their number.

Iron man Nick Carolan was on the end of a wild blow worthy of Tyson Fury well after Rowntree had cleared the ball.

He reluctantly left the field using his one open eye to glare at the perpetrator who would certainly have been cited at a higher level and been up before the beak. This behaviour is not needed at this level.

With their hackles up, Ilkley responded with a vengeance. The backs turned on the style with Johnson being stopped high six metres out. The obvious option was a scrum and the inevitable outcome was the second penalty try and a yellow card for the young Stockport prop.

Moments later Johnson and Morgan combined superbly for a great try for Morgan.

A lapse of concentration and some unusually poor tackling saw the indomitable Stockport back row fashion a try from nowhere to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

Fortunately, the last ten minutes were pretty much all Ilkley, with unrelenting scrum pressure close in to Stockport’s line.

A final penalty from Rowntree put the seal on a win that takes Ilkley up to eighth as they prepare for a welcome week off.