LATE heartbreak saw Ilkley suffer a narrow 21-20 defeat at home to one of the inform sides in the division on Saturday.

A huge crowd gathered to witness high flying York take on the Dalesmen on the back of two recent victories that had propelled them to 6th in this hugely competitive league.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout though, and after deploying their own bomb squad, York’s dominance of the scrum finally turned the match in their favour and the flow towards the Ilkley line became something of a tidal wave.

An inauspicious start saw York chalk up the first points with a penalty in front from full back Liam Hessay; 3-0 to the visitors.

Ilkley responded well, closing York’s attack down profitably. A penalty of their own from a promising position just shaded the wrong side of the posts. From the 22 clearance Ilkley’s lineout was well secured and the ball shipped wide for speed maestro Ben Walker to go over and touch down under the posts. Charlie Morgan slotted the goal. 7-3.

Successive turnovers from Kristan Dobson and Ben Magee earned the Dalesmen a penalty shot. Morgan was on target. 10-3 after the first quarter.

A high shot and then an offside call from referee Mr Sam Potts gave York three points to reduce the deficit to 10-6.

Ilkley went straight back and won another shot at goal with a superb counter ruck. The kick was again offline.

The away side came back with a penalty but couldn’t secure the loose ball which rolled into touch. From their lineout the Dalesmen won a penalty on the York ten-metre line. Morgan put a beauty into the corner (but, why not another kick at goal?). The lineout was lost but York were guilty of holding on and this time Morgan put it through the sticks. 13-6.

Ilkley’s stubborn defence was called upon to stop what looked like a certain score when York had a lineout two metres out. But Ilkley benefitted from a penalty when the driving maul was ruled illegal for obstruction.

York pressed hard through at least three penalties and the first ominous signs of Jackson’s presence as an Ilkley scrum went into reverse.

However, the Dalesmen spent the dying minutes of the half pressing on the visitors’ line with at least half a dozen scoring chances, finally relieved by Mr Potts’ whistle for holding on.

The second period started well enough. Ilkley survived a penalty lineout drive at their line with a scrum as the ball was dropped in the act of scoring. They got back to halfway when Morgan dinked a lovely 50/20 to win a lineout inside the York 22.

Great pressure with several more scoring chances finally were rewarded as skipper Joe Lowes went over to score out wide. Morgan added the extras. 20-6 with 35 minutes to play, but the game would soon flip on its head.

Ilkley were on the back foot defending as though their lives depended on it. Having brushed off two York scoring opportunities the ball was sent wide to York’s wing Mitch Ashman. Ilkley’s Walker was up fast and a loose arm, maybe Walker’s, maybe not, knocked the ball down. Walker saw yellow, very much to his chagrin.

York were winning penalty after penalty and opting for the resultant set piece. Mr Potts warned, “the next one, someone goes”, and sure enough someone did. Ilkley’s own rock of Gibraltar Rob Sigsworth too saw yellow. York had the penalty try. 20-13.

After sustained pressure, finally, York scored again, this time out wide. Too wide for Hessay. 20-18.

Ilkley then held firm for what seemed an age but finally a penalty gave Hessay the chance to take the lead. It sailed over and condemned Ilkley to a heartbreaking 21-20 defeat despite their best efforts to hang on.

Next weekend there is a blank in the fixture list. The following week Ilkley travel to Blaydon for a big game on the 4G pitch just north of the Metro centre in Newcastle.