The return fixture earlier in the season had a similar feel as Ponte conceded two tries in the first five minutes as Ilkley had too much pace at the breakdown and round the edges. Both tries went unconverted and Ponte pressure was rewarded with a Liam Kay penalty. There is no doubt the rugby injury gods have shone on Ponte in recent seasons, but that is not the case now as star forwards Brodie Matthews and Tad Nyanjowa both had to leave the field after a nasty clash of heads.

Despite this setback Ponte were playing well with only great defence denying Ciaren Tucker and Max Copley. Man of the match Sam Millard was also held up short as the Ponte scrum managed a high degree of dominance. The difference in the two sides was made clear as a penalty for backchat gave Ilkley the opportunity to gain territory and show their finishing prowess with a well taken try to take the half time score to seventeen points to three.

Ponte started the second half well and a searing break from Josh Milthorpe ended up with Tim Spears racing to the line, only, once again, getting tackled just short. Ponte hooker Tim Pickersgill managed to thwart another Ilkley try but they soon extended their lead as good hands put their prop like winger in at the corner.

Craig Fawcett came on and added some spark to the team, but another try was bombed as this time a dropped ball stopped a try. Ilkley rounded off the scoring with a penalty and it was game over. Best for Ponte was Millard, Pickersgill and Rogers in the forwards with Milthorpe and Spears going well in the backs.

The inability to finish off excellent opportunities is holding the team back and, along with discipline and error count, needs to improve. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend as high-flying Harrogate make their first ever league visit to Moor lane. With an ex players lunch taking the team will be well supported - could this be the week that our fortunes change?