Now you pose that statement to anyone from Billingham they will be ecstatic! But not the Billingham players. Frustration was written all over their faces. Missed chances and questionable decisions meant Billingham were not able to get out of third gear.

In the words of DoR Peter Evans 'We are yet to complete at 80 minute performance'. Billingham will not be happy until they have that complete performance.

Billingham had travelled to Ilkley knowing a victory would put additional pressure on league leaders Heath. Travelling into the depths of Yorkshire, the weather changed. Rain, clouds, mist, fog were just some of the conditions we had come across.

Ilkley, a picturesque setting with a thriving support base boasted a young and exciting squad. Billingham welcomed back Mike Whinn into the pack replacing the unavailable Dan Dixon with Joe Spoors returning to the bench.

The pitch, despite the conditions was in very good order. After a promising start Ilkey coughed up possession, then infringed which presented Billingham with a penalty in front of goal. Skipper Elliott Husband quickly opting for the scrum. Conner Foley then fed Peter Evans who with a touch of brilliance, grubbered the ball through 2 defenders for centre Luke Wilson to gather and touch down. Jobe Roxby converted 0-7.

Billingham were quickly on the again. Ben Walton bursting through from an Evans pass. Brown and Clark bulldozed the ruck whoch freed the ball to be spun to Luke Wilson who fed Youll who gave a nice pass for Matt Kirby to score. Roxby converted. 0-14

Then a lost lineout allowed Billingham back into the attack zone. It was cleared once but a sumptuous back line move saw Matt Kirby in for his brace. Roxby’s kick was wide but 0-19 was an ominous score after just 25 minutes.

Billingham through the next 10 minutes seemed comfortable in attack and defence. Ilkley had most of the possession but to no avail.

There followed 15 minutes before the interval, the referee then penalised Billingham for not rolling away from the attacking ruck. A kick to the corner saw Ilkley win the lineout. Billingham were then penalised bringing down the maul. Again Ilkley kicked to the corner. As the Ilkley catcher hit the ground Billingham were adjudged to have again pulled down the maul. This time the referee had seen enough and showed a yellow to second rower Mike Walton. Billingham’s defence proved as good as their attack as they quickly won a turnover and kicked clear.

Half time 0-19

Billingham returned to the field first before a revved up Ilkley side came following.

Ilkley had the better start to the first when Billingham were penalised successively. A kick to the corner saw an Ilkley catch and drive power over. A heap of bodies were on the floor but the ref saw enough to award the try. Conversion kicked. 7-19

Billingham ran the changes. Witness into the second row for the injured Ben Walton, Joe Spoors for Clark and Kench for Husband. Billingham had a reset scrum. The refreshed scrum drove Ilkley backwards, the ball spilling out and it was Conner Foley who reacted the quickest to score an opportunist try. Conversion missed. 7-24

Another penalty conceded from the kick off put Billingham back in Ilkley’s 22. From the lineout they once again deployed their excellent back line in full to put Kirby in for his well deserved hat trick and Roxby obliged with the conversion. 7-31.

A late yellow card for Billingham and a flurry of penalties exerted pressure on the Billingham's line but it was too late as Dan Burns turned the ball over and the ball kicked off the field.

Credit to Ilkley. a young and inexperienced side who are still finding their feet. A good club with promising players.... Ones to watch!

An overall good win marred by a knock to Ben Walton.

We go again next week when we welcome Paviors to Greenwood Road!

#OSIOS