Ripon (Hornblowers) Vs Ilkley 3 By Billy Burgin

Match Report: Ripon (Hornblowers) Vs Ilkley 3
By Billy Burgin
On a high from a fantastic win away at Yarnbury the week before, the Hornblowers were keen to keep their successful run going against a solid Ilkley 3rd team, unbeaten in over 12 hundred days apparently so they boasted.

The Hornblowers welcomed James Cooper on his 1st appearance in adult rugby and into the 10 shirt as leader of the backs. Also a big welcome back to the sturdy hands of Adam Newcombe and the incredibly elegant moustache of Morgan Laws.

The 4 years unbeaten record by Ilkley did not scare the confident Hornblowers team, so much so that the Ilkey captain, even with his glorious mullet, couldn't stand the heat and retired from the pitch instantly.
However, the score line went down with Ilkey spotting the gaps out wide and scoring 2 trys, in the first 10minutes, taking the score to 0-12.
The next 15minutes Hornblowers spent getting their heads back together, battling mainly in the forwards, with the likes of George Evans, Steve Townsend and Adam Newcombe providing a sturdy defensive wall. With Ashley "Fireman" Plant firing every ruck possible to retain possession. Then with the work-rate being maintained, sticking to their discipline turned the Hornblowers around with a penalty given 25mins in on the Ilkley 22. This give James Cooper the opportunity to put Hornblowers on the score board, 3-22.
Not long after a superb box kick over the top from Matt Binks gathered by Jacob Drane, then fed back inside to Binks and run in under the posts, puts the score to 10-12. With the confidence of the Hornblowers growing another penalty went in their favour giving James Cooper the kick to take the Hornblowers into the 2nd half the upper side 13-12.
Starting the second half it's clear to see that the one point difference was bothering the strong Ilkley team, as they spent the rest of the game attempting to gain a 16th man for their team. Ignoring the constant whining to the ref Hornblowers just stuck to the discipline of playing their game, which paid off with another chance for James Cooper to pick up another 3 points originating from a phenomenal run from Matthew Barrett, dancing 30 metres between a staggered and startled Ilkley defence, but getting caught millimetres from the try line, the ref takes us back to a penalty, to take the score to 16-12.
A bit later back on the Ilkley try line, the opposition get awarded a scrum 5 metres from their line, the powerful pack of the Hornblowers demolish their scrum, turn it over, for Binks to pick the ball up, run open, then decide it was probably best to go blind and take us to a lead of 21-12.
Spirits are high, but then a yellow card for Billy Burgin for a seat belt tackle on their hooker, who was only a few feet smaller than him, took Hornblowers down to 14men, the dramatics from the hoover was awarded. Which the Ilkley team made the most of scoring a try straight after, 21-19 But within the next minutes Ripon came back with a hat-trick try from Binks, who was having a fantastic game.
Soon a high tackle on the same dramatic hooker, gave the Ripon supporters front row entertainment, but then the reffing giving Ilkley an extra 10metres on top of that, and a "clearly obvious" forward pass from Barrett on another try scoring opportunity for the Hornblowers, showed us Ilkley may of just got their 16th man.
Ilkley gain another score, taking the final play to a 4 point lead for Hornblowers, who stuck out the last few phases to come out victorious.
Final score 32:29
MoM to Ashley "Fireman" Plant for putting his body on the line, taking his authority of Pack Leader incredibly well and unfortunately tearing his bicep. Wishing you a speedy recovery with the op Planty.
Back in the club house after, Ilkley were fantastic sporting guests. Matt Crowther accepted the MoM pint for Plant drinking out of the new and prestigious drinking horns, which he struggled with, so Ilkley covered him in what he couldn't finish, as he's an old player of theirs.

Special mentions to Binks for incredible game and hat-trick. And also to Cooper for stepping up to adult rugby at 17 like he's always been there.
Next week the Hornblowers are away to Wetherby – another very tough game but with strength in depth they should come out on top.