Alnwick RFC continue unbeaten streak with 10-try Ilkley rout

Alnwick RFC continued their barnstorming start to the new campaign with a commanding 66-26 win over Ilkley on Saturday afternoon.

The Northumberland outfit remain unbeaten in the Regional One North East - and second in the table - after producing a stellar display at Greensfield, scoring 10 tries against an opponent who themselves sit just outside of the top three.

Edward Cuthbert ran over Alnwick’s first score in the fourth minute, with Jim Blackett ably converting. Ilkley would hit back shortly after through a Jack Akiono try, converted by Louis Anderson, but Ben Pettifer and William Dykes re-established the hosts’ lead just before the half-hour mark, with Blackett again on target with both of his subsequent kicks.

From there, a quickfire Alexander Robson brace prior to the interval, and a further Blackett conversion, catapulted Alnwick into a strong position at half-time. Jonathan McNickle would add another try two minutes into the second period to emphasise his side’s dominance.

With a little over half an hour remaining, Benjamin Magee pulled a try back for the visitors, with Anderson converting once more, before Callum Burn kept the scoreboard ticking over for Alnwick with another converted effort.

As the game entered its final stretch, both sides would trade blows, with Magee going over twice more to complete his hat-trick either side of a Kalvin Inglis double - both of which were converted by Blackett.

The final score of the contest would go to the men who kicked things off for Alnwick, as Cuthbert wrapped up an impressive afternoon’s work, and Blackett found his mark one last time.