North Ribblesdale 14 Ilkley 13

North Ribblesdale overcame the absence of several regular players to snatch a victory against an Ilkley side they seem to have an Indian sign over.

Centre Jonathan Richards scored all his side’s points and sealed the victory with a booming penalty into the wind from the 10-metre line.

Richards also scored a try when Ribb had their backs to the wall and kicked two further penalties.

Ilkley started strongly but never came to terms with the Ribb scrum which was on top throughout.

The home side also secured their own line-out ball and took a couple of critical steals from Ilkley.

The scrum dominance and their steely midfield defence were the critical features of this win.

Ribb lost the toss and played towards the clubhouse.

Ilkley exerted pressure from the off with stand-off Mike Cacchia directing a dangerous-looking back line.

The first scrum lifted the pressure with Steven Moon making a sharp break to put Ben Mitchell away.

He was hauled down on the 22 but Ribb’s mobile flankers Chris Heap and Jake Knowles were first to the breakdown.

Adam Stubbs carried the move on and Ilkley conceded a penalty wide out which Richards narrowly missed.

Ribb took the drop out and a burst by Simon Bolland, making a welcome return, caught Ilkley offside. Richards made no mistake this time.

The expected turnover from the kick off duly arrived. Ilkley moved the ball to stretch the Ribb defence.

From the resulting ruck Ribb were caught offside and Cacchia landed the penalty to level the scores.

Ribb came roaring back and Graham Newhouse, Mick Carr and Sam Boatwright gained ground forcing a scrum on the Ilkley 22.

The visitors transgressed and Richards put Ribb back into the lead at 6-3.

Ilkley responded with their big forwards getting on a roll. They are well drilled and hard to stop, and so it proved as Ribb were penalise. Cacchia again levelled the scores.

Ilkley finished the half strongly and with the wind in their favour looked favourites. They continued the mom- entum after the break too.

Their big men penetrated the Ribb 22 and two more drives sucked in the midfield to create an overlap for JH Johnson to score a try near the posts. Cacchia’s conversion made it 13-6.

Faced with a daunting task, they had the wind and heavy rain in their faces too, Ribb set about defending in a very workmanlike manner.

They completely stifled the Ilkley midfield and held their big pack in the loose.

Crucially the Ribb scrum gained clear ascendancy and two line-out steals by Boatwright and Will Thwaite gave room for Moon to run out of his own half. Hayden Viles chipped the loose ball over the defence for Richards who caught it and charged over for a fine try. Although he was unable to convert, Ribb were back in the hunt at 13-11.

Another infringement at the scrum gave Richards a difficult chance which went wide, but Ribb were still in the Ilkley half.

Another penalty on the ten metre line saw what looked to be a very optimistic kick at goal for Richards.

From 40 metres and into the wind, he struck the ball well and it sailed over to secure a good win, much to the delight of the home supporters.