Match Report Saturday 19th February 2005

Belgrave 15v25 Ilkeston

This victory against a very abrasive Belgrave side keeps the Elks promotion hopes very much alive. They still lie third, only one point behind Matlock who still have to visit the Stute on April 9th. The top three have opened a comfortable gap on the chasing pack so the Elks aspirations to the title or a play off place are one step closer to becoming reality.

The Elks went into this game without Faulkner, who may miss most of the remainder of the season, and Flemming who was confined to the bench nursing a groin strain. The short trip to Belgrave on the outskirts of Leicester presented no travel fatigue and the Elks had the better of the opening exchanges. Rudkin, Taylor and Draper all caused problems for the home defence with their powerful running as did flankers Prescott and Wiltshire whose willingness to chase and tackle denied Belgrave time and space.

The first opportunity to put points on the board fell to the Elks but Kendal hit the upright from 35 meters. The chance had been created by a crunching Falls tackle and quick thinking from Charlton and Quinn. With 15 minutes gone Belgrave had not made a single visit into the Elks half and were merely responding to probes and charges from Draper, Singleton, Taylor and Naylor, all who came close.

The game came alive on the 17th minute when very much against the run of play Belgraves Davey scored a superb try. The home side got the put in to a scrum 5 meters from their own line. No: 8 Cramer picked up and linked with Davey. These two interpassed with Kyle and Dutton in a move covering the length of the park and ended with Davey scoring under the posts. Helnsey's conversion made it 7-0.

Belgrave could have added to their lead 5 minutes later when Dutton breached the Elks midfield but was denied by a Singleton cover tackle. This score prompted the Elks into action and fine work from Chapman, Charlton, Quinn, and Garland secured them a line out on the half way line. Garlands take was driven midfield by the forwards and when the ball was released Chapman put Draper into space. His 50 meter sprint saw him crash through tackles and outpace the defence to score between the posts. Kendal's conversion levelled the scores.

The Elks came close to taking the lead on two occasions in the next 10 minute period. First, fine linking and interpassing between Rudkin, Hallam, Kendal, and Taylor almost created space for Singleton. The second was a Taylor break supported by Naylor and Quinn but came to nothing as a pass was adjudged forward.

With the line out functioning well and the scrum, with front row Naylor, Falls, and Charlton giving nothing to a much heavier outfit it was not long before the ready supply of quality ball was put to good use by the backs. Ball won by Garland at the line out was recycled through numerous phases putting the Belgrave defence on the back foot. A clever switch of direction between Hallam and Rudkin allowed Hallam to feed Singleton. His jinking run enabled him to dive over in the corner giving the Elks the lead for the first time at 7-12.

From the restart the Elks inability to kick clear of their 22 allowed Belgrave to establish a platform from which they earned a penalty. Hensley made no mistake from 30 meters to reduce the gap to just two points. As the half drew close, Singleton scored his second try by a superb individual effort. Belgrave's Dutton failed to find touch and Singleton fielded the ball deep inside his own half. His sheer pace and nimble feet took him passed defender after defender, finally selling a dummy, that would cost a fortune on eBay, and scoring in the corner. Belgrave supporters were generous in their applause and stated it was the best try they had seen on their ground for a number of seasons. The missed conversion brought up the half time score at 10-17. Whilst the first half had been a free flowing entertaining affair the second half would only reach such heights on two occasions.

The bigger, heavier Belgrave forwards imposed themselves on the game and denied the Elks quality ball with which to set their pacier backs loose. The use of the driving maul allowed Belgraves scrum half Kyle to put strong running forwards Bailey, Cramer and Davey into space and only a determined defence denied a score. The pressure did result in a conceded penalties and Belgraves Hensley should have closed the gap with 2 kickable efforts.

A rare excursion into the opposition territory allowed the Elks to increase their lead through a Kendal penalty after good work by Murray, Hallam and Garland.

From the restart, confusion on a defencive line out allowed Belgrave to steal the ball. Prop Bailey drove on and provided a scoring pass for Davey's second try. At 15-20 the Elks were subject to a nervous last 20 minutes.

To their credit the Elks responded to the challenge and decided that the best form of defence was attack. They attempted to spread the ball won and ask questions of the Belgrave defence when it would have been easier to sit back and simply defend their lead. Their efforts were nearly rewarded with interpassing between Rudkin, Taylor and Hallam created space for Draper. His strong run was stopped just short of the Belgrave line.

Their reward did however materialise on the 2nd minute of injury time. A Murray pick up from a scrum 30 meters out was quickly used by Chapman. Rudkin fed his centres and a beautifully executed loop between Taylor and Hallam allowed Taylor to dash through a gap in the defence to score and make the final score 15-25.

Belgrave is never an easy venue and the experience and power of their forwards is renound throughout the league. The lighter and younger Elks forwards showed that they can stick to their task for 80 minutes and are not going to be dominated while the backs demonstrated why they are such a feared strike force and why Draper and Taylor are first and third in the top try scorers in the league.

Next Saturday February 26th the Elks entertain Mellish in a league game. Kick off 2-.15 p.m. All supporters new and old are welcome.