Dinnington 17 Ilkley 13

South Yorkshire was shrouded in a thick fog and only the warmth of the welcome in the cosy clubhouse and the club president’s elegant 1960s vintage Burberry coat convinced one that we were at a proper rugby ground.

Dinnington have a very successful junior section, today's side boasting 11 products of that section. It is a vibrant community rugby.

The players in this game were indistinguishable from the side of the pitch and invisible from one end to the other.

In fact conditions were just playable but credit to referee Mr Lindsay and the players for undertaking the task in hand This was always going to be a tight game with Dinnington once again finding themselves at the wrong end of the table despite having beaten neighbours Wath away. They have earned a reputation for scraping their way out of trouble and the scalp of the second-placed Dalesmen is one to covet.

A win at Stacks Field at the end last season gave them their Division One lifeline.

Two penalties to Dinnington from the boot of Jonny West to one for Ilkley courtesy of the reliable Mike Cacchia was about all that was worthy of comment in the first half hour, but for Ilkley to be trailing 6- 3 playing up the slope could be considered satisfactory.

Ilkley spurned three kickable penalties as they strived to use their forward power to score a try, and lived to regret it.

The Dalesmen were distinctly lack-lustre at the start of the second half as the fog increased the spectators’ discomfort.

Ilkley conceded ground and penalties to give the home side the upper hand.

A try from Sam Kirk was the outcome after several phases of intense pressure.

West and Cacchia exchanged penalties as the home side led 14-6.

Then the Dalesmen came to life inspired by the excellent Cacchia who charged up on his opposite number midfield thumping him to the ground and loosening the ball for a swarm of Dalesmen to set J H Johnson up for a converted try.

But a late West penalty ended any hopes of an Ilkley victory on a gloomy afternoon.