AT the fourth attempt of asking, Ilkley's attempts to stage their encounter at home to Driffield finally paid dividends.

The contest had already been postponed on three occasions due to poor playing conditions, but the pitch was deemed playable this time around as Ilkley fell to a 37-17 defeat.

The game at Stacks Field got underway and immediately the tone was set, with the visitors being awarded a penalty after an Ilkley player had not released his man. The league’s third placed points scorer Kalani Grant coolly stroked it over for the goal to put the away team 3-0 ahead.

Ilkley came back with a bang, exerting huge pressure on Driffield’s defence before Charlie Morgan, Jordan Cummins and Jamie Slator combined to fashion a great try under the sticks. 7-3 in favour of the hosts.

Driffield hit back with a 50/20 and a well won lineout which was driven to five metres only to be stopped illegally. A further lineout and drive produced the score and an inch perfect conversion from Grant. 10-7 Driffield went ahead, a lead which would never really be threatened despite the gallant efforts of the Dalesmen.

Both sides punched holes in the other’s defence. For Ilkley Harrison looked a real threat and went close twice, but twice possession was butchered on the line.

Ilkley lost Alex Powell with a leg injury. Stephen Costello replaced him and almost immediately damaged his hand but, with no other replacement, he courageously battled on. The first of innumerable front row interchanges saw Head take a rest to allow the ever reliable Josh Pinder some game time.

Charlie Head was through onto a loose Driffield pass but his hooker’s pace was not quite enough and his pass to no one ended up nowhere.

The visitors went into the break with a 15-7 lead.

The second half was three minutes old when a great break by Walker from his new slot at full back set up some great phases and a ball sent wide left for the hooker turned wing Head to score from ten metres. Now the Dalesmen were right back in it with just three points between the sides.

Driffield hit back, camping on the Ilkley line albeit well defended, but a marginal offside produced a lineout from which Brankley went over to score. Grant added the extras. 22-12 to the away side.

Ilkley were penalised for offside and Grant added the goal to make it 25-12.

Driffield's winger, Ben Blacker, then played a loose pass and it was swooped upon by Ilkley's Cummins and he made all the ground to score. Ilkley were back in it at 25-17.

Captain Brankley then decided it was time to step up the pace and the scoring as he added two more tries, the first created by full back James Watts and it was now 37-17 to the visiting side.

Driffield were too competent and too controlled to give Ilkley any hope of a result, a four try bonus point being the best outcome the Dalesmen could aspire to.

They certainly gave it their best shot with a series of phases created by Brown but in the end the creator turned butcher as an ambitious pop pass eluded all but the onrushing Driffield defenders.

Then an Ilkley lineout was taken quickly and short and Ollie Ham darted to line to wild acclaim from the crowded grandstand only to be thwarted by a flag for foot in touch. No try, no bonus point, no shame. Indeed, the table doesn’t lie. The Dalesmen were beaten by the better side on the day.

Ilkley face a resurgent Cleckheaton away this weekend, and they head into it six points adrift of 5th place.