Gazette Sport

Dalesmen sign forward Renton as they savour dramatic cup win

By Alan Birkinshaw

10:24am Thursday 26th January 2012

Wharfedale back-row forward Ollie Renton is the latest experienced player to join ambitious Ilkley.

News of Renton’s signing comes as the club celebrates its thrilling 25-20 win at Stockton last Saturday in the RFU Intermediate Cup.

That result means they only have to avoid defeat against Ashington at Stacks Field on Saturday, February 11 to progress to the Northern final of a competition that has its national final at Twickenham.

Coach Rhys Morgan said: “Signing Ollie caps a great few days for us.

“He is an experienced player with a good pedigree and can play in either the second row or the back row.”

Renton is likely to be on the replacements’ bench for Saturday’s league game at Driffield.

Morgan was thrilled with his team’s performance at Stockton.

He said: “The competition is so important for the club. It was a great result and now our destiny is in our own hands.

“When Stockton levelled the scores in the last minute I feared the worst, but then Mark Kirkby scored at the death and the whole picture changed.

“As Stockton had already beaten Ashington 31-3, we would have needed to beat them by 29 points, but Kirkby’s try means we only need a draw.

“It is a nice position to be in but we have to make sure we have the right attitude to capitalise on it. Ashington will be a dogged side and we need to be up to the challenge,” said Morgan.

One player who has left Ilkley this week is back-row forward Brandan Hannam who has found travelling from South Yorkshire difficult.

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