STACKS Field played host to Alnwick for the first time since October 2019 at the weekend, since when England’s northernmost club have consolidated themselves at Level Five, finishing last season comfortably mid-table.

On the other hand, the Dalesmen had won at the last meeting in Ilkley and were anxious to recover from the slugfest of the week before against Heath. Unfortunately, the injuries sustained in that match had taken their toll on the Ilkley selection and it was a very different side that took the field for this encounter.

Before the matches on Stacks Field kicked off, all four teams that were playing that day gave a minute's silence in remembrance of Her Majesty The Queen.

With their first attack, the visitors stretched the Ilkley defence right and then left, but a knock-on prevented an early score. Then an Ilkley penalty failed to find touch, enabling Alnwick to get back down into the Ilkley 22. This time, there were no handling errors and prop Duncan Smith touched down for the first points of the day, Evan Moir’s conversion attempt drifting wide.

With 15 minutes gone and with Ilkley starved of possession, all that could be done was to soak up the pressure with some fine tackling. A penalty awarded to Alnwick at the breakdown led to another crisp handling move, ending with winger Andrew Ord scoring in the corner. Again, the conversion was missed, but Ilkley were down 10-0.

Some sloppy handling and a couple of ragged lineouts didn’t help the Dalemen’s cause, but some nice interplay between Harry Harrison and the evergreen J-H Johnson led to the Ilkley pack driving over the line, but referee Kristian Garland signalled the ball being held up. Back came Ilkley from the drop out and this time, scrum-half Will Taylor did manage to touch down, but his effort was disallowed for a double movement. However, there was no doubt that Ilkley had found their feet and there was no further score as the half-time whistle blew.

Early in the second half Alnwick offended at the break down and this time, Johnson nailed the kick to make it 3-10.

A high kick from the Alnwick full-back was fielded well by Johnson, but in doing so, he collided with Luke Gamble, who unfortunately had to leave the field. With order restored, Ilkley’s next attack yielded another penalty for holding on in the tackle and Johnson obliged to bring the score to 6-10.

With just five minutes to go and at least a losing bonus point surely in the bag, Ilkley upped their efforts, but the Alnwick defence stood firm and then mounted an attack of their own. Desperate Ilkley defence kept them at bay, but in doing so, went over the top and conceded the penalty.

Alnwick clearly wanted to run the clock down and opted to kick for goal, this proving to be Moir’s only success of the day. 6-13 but that bonus point still there.

Ilkley’s hearts were in their mouths as the kick-off went straight into touch, but Alnwick seemed to have had enough and the attack came to naught. Ilkley earned a final penalty which took them to the opposition 22, but the defence held out and that was it, with the score finishing 13-6 in favour of the visitors.

Next week sees the Dalesmen hit the road to Nottinghamshire to face Paviors, an Old Boys team, currently lying below Ilkley in the league, but also with two points.