ANOTHER new name on the Ilkley fixture list, West Bridgford and the Dalesmen’s sixth game of this interesting campaign.

With no points on the board, the formbook suggested that this would be yet another heavy defeat for the Nottingham side, not least as it was widely agreed that Ilkley’s selection was the strongest so far.

J-H Johnson deservedly was the centre of attention, this being the all-rounder’s 200th first team appearance and he didn’t disappoint on the field either, his opponents generously naming him their man of the match in the Clubhouse later in the afternoon.

Ilkley’s kick-off went straight into touch and almost immediately, the visitors demonstrated that they hadn’t read the formbook and were in no mood for a caning. Ilkley conceded a penalty for offside on their 22 and Ben Dickinson put his side ahead with the goal.

The early score certainly served to wake the hosts up and on their first real attack, a penalty for a high-tackle was won and the kick rifled by Johnson to 5m from the West Bridgford line. A catch and drive ensued before flanker Jack Liebster broke off to score Ilkley’s first. Johnson’s conversion attempt was held up in the stiff breeze.

Any hope that normal service might be resumed for Ilkley was dispelled almost immediately as the visitors came back strongly. Liebster retired with a shoulder injury, to be replaced by debutant Oscar Simpson and then a well-worked move from a scrum saw right wing Seyi Ajaigbe scoot over in the corner, Dickinson’s kick suffering the same fate as Johnson’s earlier attempt.

So, 8-5 to the visitors after seventeen minutes and clearly, a less one-sided match than forecast on the cards.

Kristan Dobson was at the heart of Ilkley's next attack, fielding a high kick before a trade-mark run through a despairing defence. On to to skipper Joe Lowes allowing Ilkley to gain a few more metres before a beautifully weighted pass to the supporting Ed Brown saw the acting full-back touch down close enough for Johnson’s kick to bring the score to 12-8.

The second half started with little noticeable difference from how the first had ended. Both sides were striving to gain the upper hand, with neither achieving that goal. West Bridgford broke the deadlock when a kick through was misfielded by the Ilkley defence, allowing Ajaigbe to hack through and win the race to touch down. Dickinson’s kick was good and Ilkley were behind again at 15-12.

Ilkley fought back well and finally started to look like living up to the pre-match forecasts. A Johnson penalty took his side to within five metres and from the resulting line, lock Alex Powell crashed over for the score. Unconverted, Ilkley led again, 17-15.

Back came the Dalesmen from the kick-off and winning a free-kick, the scrum option was taken, some 30 metres out. Dobson’s fine run was halted illegally, but the penalty was taken quickly, the ball flashed out wide and Brown scored his second of the day wide out on the right, Johnson’s boot failing again.

The bonus point score meant that Ilkley had to close the game down, not exactly a specialist subject for the Stacks Field men, with fifteen minutes remaining. The visitors did their utmost to force at least a draw and at times, it seemed their hosts were going to oblige, coughing up penalty after penalty.

The crucial moment came when Peter Erskine stole a West Bridgford line following a penalty and with that, the game was over at 22-15.