ILKLEY’S first XV have had some great games with Billingham over the past couple of decades and, whilst Saturday’s was not one of their most memorable encounters, it was a full blooded affair with an hour of scoreless rugby bookended by three Billingham tries in the first 25 minutes and two more in the final quarter.

After a promising start Ilkley coughed up a gift escape, then another to present Billingham with a penalty in front of goal. Opting for the scrum they fed the omniscient Peter Evans with a chance to deploy a delicate training ground chip over the Ilkley back line for centre Luke Wilson to gather and touch down, 7-0.

A penalty put the visitors back on the front foot and from the lineout the ball was moved wide with some alacrity for wing Matthew Kirby to score. Joe Roxby’s kick from the touchline was good, 14-0 to the visitors.

Then a rare lost lineout allowed Billingham back into the attack zone. It was cleared once but a sumptuous back line move saw Kirby in for his brace. Roxby’s kick was wide but 19-0 was an ominous score after just 25 minutes.

There followed 15 minutes before the interval and 20 after through which Ilkley matched Billingham in attack and defence.

A good break by JH Johnson took Ilkley to five metres out. Three penalties in quick succession and several drives finally and frustratingly saw Jack Leibster bundled into touch.

Ollie Ham replaced Charlie Head at the break, but more of the same followed with territorial gains by both sides interrupted by handling errors.

Eddie Brown made way for Will Taylor whose presence lasted for all of 30 seconds as he saw yellow for a late tackle.

Steve Costello’s big game was done and young Oscar Simpson replaced him.

Then at last Ilkley struck. A superb touchfinder from the splendid Harry Smith put Ilkley five metres out with a lineout the reward.

The excellent Pete Erskine gathered and the ILKLEY rumble took them over for Ham to score. Johnson’s kick matched Roxby’s and brought the scores back to 19-7.

With Taylor back on the field and two Billingham finishers on that glimmer was quickly extinguished as the Dalesmen’s scrum was sent backwards and round. The ball popped out for scrum half Conner Foley. He picked up and went in unopposed wide out, 24-7.

Another penalty conceded put Billingham back in Ilkley’s 22. From the lineout they once again deployed their excellent back line in full to put Kirby in for his well-deserved hat trick and Roxby obliged with the conversion, 31-7.

A late yellow card for Billingham and a flurry of of penalties exerted pressure on the visitor’s line but it was too late as the superb Evans ended the game.

This match celebrated JH Johnson’s 202nd game in an Ilkley shirt; a great achievement for an ever present in the Ilkley setup.

This weekend the Dalesmen make the short trip to Cleckheaton, the conquerors of early pacesetters Heath in their clash of the giants at Heath.

The Cleckheaton outfit looks revitalised this season with influence of the Piper brothers Richard and Matthew.