THIS was the first time Wirral and Ilkley had met and the result of the game was in doubt until the end of the long drawn out second half.

It was Ilkley who in the early stages put Wirral under pressure, playing a similar game to which Wirral normally play by using their speedy backs.

The away side missed the opportunity to score first when a break from their fly half and an off load to his centre resulted in the latter dropping the ball with the line at his mercy.

However a few minutes later, Ilkley took the lead through a similar move when winger Johnson following the break to collect and score 10m from the posts- the conversion was missed.

Gradually, Wirral came into the game more and whilst the forwards took control and mauled well they could not progress over the whitewash and too many times the ball was turned over by Ilkley.

From one of their penalties, Wirral reduced the arrears with a penalty by Dan Harvey.

Although both teams were moving the ball and attacking, it was Wirral who were getting the better territorial advantages.

Another Wirral penalty was missed but from the subsequent drop out they exerted pressure on the Ilkley line and whilst the forwards were not able to cross, the ball was sped down the backs where a delayed pass to Matt Loon allowed the centre to run under the posts to score with Dan Harvey adding the conversion.

This gave Wirral a 10-5 lead which they held until half time.

Ilkley had the wind advantage in the second half and it should have proved more difficult for the home side but it was Wirral who had the territorial advantage but could not convert this into points as Ilkley cleared their line with long raking kicks down field.

Even though Ilkley suffered two yellow cards at the same time, Wirral were not able to take advantage much as they tried to put the away pack under pressure.

Forty minutes of the second half came and went and still play continued with the home crowd getting nervous as Ilkley mounted their final attack and sustained presence in the Wirral 20 minutes until the last play of the game allowed Wirral to clear the ball to touch and breathe a sigh of relief.