Sandal RUFC hosted a visit by Ilkley RFC for a rearranged game in Regional 1 North East arising from the fixture’s postponement three weeks earlier due to a frozen ground at Milnthorpe Green. The game was hard fought and provided moments of excitement with Ilkley securing a 40-36 victory with a converted try as the clock ran down in stoppage time. Sandal fielded a side without several key players and found it difficult to find the fluency they had enjoyed earlier in the season.
From the start Ilkley gave an early indication of their intentions by retaining possession in the Sandal half from where after only five minutes a long ball to their left winger produced an unconverted try in the
bottom corner. Ilkley continued to put Sandal under pressure which soon produced a second try which was converted to extent their lead to 12-nil after 15 minutes. Fortunately Sandal hit back quickly from a line-out on half way when Tom Hodson made a telling break before handing on to Luke Adams who kicked ahead enabling Tom Hodson to re-gather and score his side’s first try, which he converted to take the score to 12-7. Three minutes later Ilkley responded with a converted try to take the score to 19-7 at the end of the first quarter. By now the home side realised they had a contest on their hands and responded well. Ilkley was put under pressure enabling Sandal to create a number of scoring chances with the result that as half time approached Jack Handley forced his way over in the corner and with Tom Hodson’s conversion and an added penalty Sandal’s deficit had been reduced to 19-17 at the break.
The second half started well for the home side when after only five minutes Jack Handley crossed but the conversion was missed giving Sandal a 22-19 lead. Unfortunately, Sandal relaxed to give Ilkley the opportunity to respond quickly with a converted try to retake a 26-22 lead in the 48th minute. Following this score Sandal went up a gear and ten minutes later Tom Hodson broke from half way before Luke Adams took possession and sprinted to an open line for a bonus point try which Tom Hodson converted to give Sandal a 29-26 lead. This lead was increased in the third period when Declan Thompson grappled the ball free and broke for the line before handing on to Cam Allen who easily crossed under the posts and with Tom Hodson’s conversion Sandal had extended their lead to 36-26. Again Sandal relaxed and allowed Ilkley to come back during the game’s final minutes to score two converted tries to give the visitors a deserved 40-36 victory, which resulted in Sandal losing their undefeated home record.

Written by Howard Newton