Match report Saturday 28th January 2006
Coalville 12v42 Ilkeston
On
a very cold but bright afternoon the Elks made the short trip to Coalville
and recorded an impressive victory by 42 points to 12.
The
Elks were worthy winners using their excellent line out, ball retention
up front, elusive backs and pressure defence to monopolise territory and
field position. The win keeps them riding high in second place in the
league and promotion very much in their sights.
Although
they had
The
loss of
When
the ruck or maul ball was produced Townsley inevitably took the right
decision. His swift passing gave Rudkin valuable space and time and his
darts around the fringes brought his forwards into the game. The back
row of Holmes, Matague and Darby thrived on his options.
While
the forwards for the quality and quantity of ball produced the backs must
be eulogised for the use of which it was put. The Berlin Philharmonic
could not have been more in tune as Rudkin conducted his master class
from fly half. His outside backs responded with precision to every probe,
feint, and pass as they defied the wind and cold to deliver a near faultless
display of handling.
Rudkin,
Faulkner, and Evans were finding space in the midfield with Holmes constantly
on hand to ensure the ruck ball was recycled. The impressive Mr. Franks
enabled the game to keep its fluidity with good use of the advantage law
and instant penalising of players attempting to slow the game down by
killing the ball on the floor.
One
such penalty was converted by
The
Elks final score of the half followed immediately. Drew again fielded
the kick off stepped around tackles and fed
From
the restart Falls pace got him under the ball and a salmon like leap allowed
him to claim it and storm into Coalvilles 22. Stoker stole the line out
ball against the throw and it was swiftly moved to Faulkner who side stepped
his marker and sped away with
The
Elks could have increased their lead 5 minutes later after Taylor and
Rudkin combined to sweep the ball the length of the field but Evans failed
to hold the pass. No mistake was made on 20 minutes however when Montague
powered his way over from the base of a 5 meter scrum. The opportunity
had been presented courtesy of a strike against the head by Widdowson.
Falls converted to give the Elks a comfortable lead at 5-37.
Coalville
responded within 4 minutes when the prolific James showed why he is amongst
the leagues leading try scorers. Receiving the ball from Summerton his
pace enabled him to take the outside line and speed in from 40 meters.
As Coalville pressed in the hope of further reducing the arrears the Elks
score the final try of the game from their own line. A solid scrum allowed
Townsley to kick long making good use of the stiff breeze. As Coalville
retreated to recover the ball Faulkner, Evans, and Drew set off in pursuit.
As Hodge gathered Drew’s tackle forced him to spill the ball, Evans picked
up and popped the pass to Falls who touched down.
A
score of 12-42 did not flatter the Elks but may give a false impression
of Coalville who fully contributed to a very entertaining game. They are
a side with skill and flair and the way they were blown aside on Saturday
shows just how much this Elks side has developed during the season.
Classic
Brewery Man of the Match – Scott Rudkin.
Next
Saturday was to be a cup fixture but though fixture congestion the Elks
1st XV do not have a game. The 2nd XV are away to
Dronfield 2’s kick off 2.15 p.m.
Monty going over for his score
Match Report Saturday 22nd October 2005
Ilkeston 43v17 Coalville
The Elks returned to league action against Coalville at the Stute on Saturday. The visitors were one of 4 sides at the top of the league sitting on 8 points and sharing an identical record to the Elks having lost just once this season.
On a sunny afternoon, the largest crowd of the season, saw 5 changes to the starting lineup with the return of Singleton, Faulkner, Evans and Jones. The youngster Kirk Widdowson was also given a début at hooker.
The Elks opened their account straight from the kick off when Coalville were penalised from the ruck, Jonno Falls slotted the goal from 40 meters. From the restart the Elks applied further pressure with driving play from Stoker, Darby, Jones and Widdowson. Townsley made good use of the ball provided giving opportunities to Rudkin, Singleton, and Drew. Only desperate defence by the visitors prevented a score.
A score duly arrived after 12 minutes Jason Falls charged over from close range. The scavenging Damon Holmes had harried the Coalville defence into conceding a line out close to their try line. Stokers take was driven forward by Montague gaining a scrum. Naylor, Widdowson, and Jason Falls provided the the platform to give quick ball which was moved wide. Naylor and Jones were on hand to win the ruck and feed Falls for his score.
The Elks were in impressive form. Stoker and Holmes were dominating the line out, providing a supply of quality balls which the backs were only too ready to use. Rudkin, Faulkner, and Evans were full of running and invention. Switches, dummies, side steps, and miss moves carved huge holes in Coalvilles defence.
The forwards were not to be denied a pert of the action and a superb combination by Naylor and Stoker made space for Faulkner who fed Evans. His power put him through tackles and was only denied a try through a trip by Cato. The referee Mr. Ryder, who had an excellent afternoon, awarded a penalty try and consigned Cato to the sin bin. Jonno Falls duly converted.
Two further tries were added before half time. The first from a Townsley break who popped the ball out of the tackle to Jones in support. The second came from a scrum close to the Coalville line gained courtesy of powerful driving play by Darby, Stoker, and Holmes. Montague touched down to record his first try in the Elks colours. Jonno Falls converted both to give a 29-0 lead.
As half time approached Coalville enjoyed their best period. Dawes and Bartlett combined to take play into the Elks 22. A line out take by Roberts was driven forward. The quick ball produced gave Hicken a little space and his short pass found rice on an angled run. His try was converted by Dawes leaving it 29-7 at half time.
Coalville started the second half as they had finished the first, determined to reduce the deficit. They achieved their aim 5 minutes in with an unconverted try from Spokes. Normal service was resumed as the Elks reasserted their authority with a try by Evans and converted by Jonno Falls.
Pringle replaced Naylor, Garland replaced Montague, and Thornton replaced Singleton but this did not disrupt the Elks rhythm as they continued to dominate the scrums and line outs and move the ball around the park with impressive flair.
Coalvilles frustration spilled over leading to a few skirmishes which were firmly dealt with by Mr. Ryder. Having won the fights the Elks returned to the task at hand. The interplay by the back 3 Falls, Drew and Thornton was at times dazzling and the midfield of Rudkin, Faulkner, and Evans was full of power, pace and invention.
The Elks final try, to put 43 points on the board, came from Evans. Jonno Falls fielded a Rice kick and set off on a weaving run. A masterclass of handling saw passes exchanged between Falls, Faulkner, Drew, and Rudkin before Evans was put into space and scored between the posts. Falls converted.
Coalville scored a consolation try through Ashenhurst after an interception by Hicken to make the final score 43-17.
This was an impressive performance considering Coalville's league standing. Particularly pleasing to the coaching staff will be the way young Kirk Widdowson coped with more experienced opponents and how Montague gave solidarity to the base of the scrum.
Classic Brewery Man of the Match was Adrian Montague.
Next week the Elks travel to Syston for a 3 o'clock kick off.
Match Report Saturday 23rd April 2005
Coalville 18v3 Ilkeston
This was very much an end of season affair when third placed Ilkeston travelled to forth placed Coalville. The result could not influence promotion or relegation or even alter the third and fourth placings. Events on the pitch reflected the lack of importance and Coalville emerged comfortable winners in a very disjointed game.
The conditions were ideal for open rugby with a wide flat pitch and only a slight breeze to influence proceedings.
The Elks started in fine form and dominating the first 20 minutes. They came close to opening the scoring from a turnover following the kick off. Flemming secured the ball who fed Rudkin who sped through the Coalville defence; he fed Taylor who seemed certain to score. A desperate cover tackle denied him however and Coalville cleared their lines.
A solid scrum from the front row of Charlton, Prescott and Pringle presented the next opportunity. The ball was moved swiftly by Rudkin and Faulkner to Singleton but he was forced into touch just short.
The Elks were running the game and releasing their backs at every opportunity. Penalties were taken quickly with backs and forwards interpassing with pace and power. Faulkner, Draper and Taylor created openings and Flemming, Murray, Garland and Wlitshire were constantly on hand to support.
It was a shock to the crowd and I am sure the players when Coalville opened the scoring from their first visit into the Elks 22. From a scrum on half way the Coalville scrum half James combined with his back row to release centre Rice who brushed aside some indifferent tackling to score wide out making it 5-0 after 20 minutes.
James made it 10-0 just 10 minutes later with a superb individual try. He took a quick tap penalty and weaved his way through a retreating Elks defence. The Elks responded to the shock of being 10-0 down very much against the run of by taking the game to Coalville. Their cause however was not helped by a referee who seemed to have entered into the end of season mood and chose to ignore large areas of the laws, particularly those relating to joining the rucks and mauls from offside positions and killing the ball on the floor.
Coalville's tactics prevented quick ball and denied the Elks most potent weapon, the pace of their backs. One infringement the official did spot enabled the visitors to get on the score sheet with a Kendal penalty. The high tackle which led to the penalty also resulted in a broken nose for Taylor who needed lengthy treatment. He did return to the battle but was forced to retire from the frey shortly afterwards.
Being 10-3 down was scant reward for the Elks first half efforts and their task was made harder with barely 2 minutes gone in the second half. A lost line out gave Coalville's James his second try and made the score 15-3. Injuries increased the enormity of the task and the Elks were forced to contest the last 25 minutes with 14 men, having used all the available replacements.
The remainder of the game was a scrappy affair, often ill tempered, as the referee failed to get a grip with the concept of keeping players on side.
Coalville added a further penalty through Rice as the Elks struggled to salvage something from the game, despite being a man down. Creative play from Flemming and Wiltshire deserved better reward as did breaks from Faulkner, Draper and Singleton.
The Elks coaching staff were philosophical after the game commenting,' we really didn't turn up today. It had the feel of a nothing game and Coalville being at home perhaps meant that their desire was that bit greater. We are pretty happy however with having finished third as we know that this side in the development stage and will be a real force next year. All in all it's been a very successful season and today's performance can?t really detract from that'.
The Elks successful season was capped by both the first and second teams winning the Derbyshire 7's Cup and Plate competitions on Sunday at Glossop RUFC.
A note for Dan Taylors mum - his nose is still straight and just a red mark left, he cried a little but nobody saw that. The boys think he was joshing and just wanted sympathy ..... never !
Match Report Saturday 4th December 2004.
Ilkeston 1st XV 34v12 Coalville 1st XV
If you will excuse the sporting cliché, this was very much a game of two halves. Ilkeston were abysmal in the first half, allowing Coalville to dominate the proceedings and establish a 12-0 lead. It looked as though the entire side had attended an early Christmas late night party and it took an infusion of vitamin c, provided by the half time oranges, to blow away the cobwebs and clear the hangovers. Whatever the coaches said at half time, it worked a treat and the second half saw the Elks demolish Coalville and score 34 unanswered points.
With less than one minute on the clock a Coalville take from the line out allowed them to set up a ruck from which scrum half James dodged his way through a mass of missed tackles to score. Dawes conversion made it 0-7. Coalville's in your face defence denied the Elks midfield backs space and led to a series of dropped passes and turnovers.
Coalville could have extended their lead after 20 minutes when Dawes went close with a drop goal attempt after yet another mistake in the Elks backs which allowed Cockerall to advance deep into the home sides 22. coalville were not denied for long however and on 22 minutes no:8 Grasson fed James from a scrum pick up who in turn put Spencer away in the corner. Ellis Hallam's desperate tackle could not prevent the score but did result in a serious leg injury which necessitated hospitalisation. The good news is that his leg is not broken and he should be back in action in the New Year.
Tom Kendal took Hallam's place at full back and the score of 0-12 shook the Elks into some semblance of life and Jim Faulkner, JP Singleton and Adam Draper all gave the solid Coalville defence some problems. Continuity however was lacking and the loss of three line outs in a row did not help the cause. Even a Jason Falls strike against the head could not be put to use and the half time whistle came as a great relief.
The second half was a completely different story. The Elks hardly put a foot wrong, passing was crisp, tackling was shattering, running and support incisive and decision making clinical.
Adam Draper was first off the mark, put away by Singleton after a Russell Garland line out take. Within a few minutes the score was 8-12. Scrum half Andrew Chapman robbed his opposite number at a scrum and forced Coalville to concede a penalty which was converted by Tom Kendal. There was no stopping the Elks, Tama Keane and JP Singleton combined to manufacture a score for skipper Craig Charlton after a series of driving rucks in which Mark Flemming, Rob Naylor and Wayne Harriman were prominent. Kendal's conversion gave the Elks the lead for the first time at 15-12 with barely seven minutes gone. Harriman was injured in the events leading up to the score and was replaced by Scott Rudkin who for the remaining 30 minutes conducted a master class in back row play.
The Elks line out was now functioning with Garland and Andrew Murray supplying good ball and causing Coalville problems on theirs. The scrum was gaining the upper hand and forwards Barry Chapman, Flemming and Rudkin were punching holes in the Coalville defence.
A penalty from a scrum allowed Andrew Chapman to establish a line out deep into Coalville territory. Murray's take fed Naylor who set up a maul close to the line. The drive could not be held and Murray emerged from the mass of bodies to claim the score. Kendal's conversion made it 22-12 with 29 minutes of the half gone.
The Elks came close on several occasions before the score was added to. Faulkner and Dan Taylor supported by Falls, with Draper and Singleton both used their pace to create chances.
The final two tries were scored by Taylor and Rudkin. The first came from a Garland line out take and forward drive of fully 30 meters which sucked in the Coalville defence. Keane's quick hands found Taylor whose inch perfect pass fed Rudkin who brushed tacklers aside to score under the posts. The final try on the stroke of full time was the move of the match. Fielding the ball deep in his own 22, Keane opted to move it rather than find the safety of touch. Superb handling and support took play into Coalvilles half where Flemmings pick up and flip pass led to a searing break by Rudkin. His pass to Taylor put him over for the try. A perfect example of turning defence into attack. Kedal converted to make the final score 34-12.
Coach Dave Hutchinson commented " We were all over the place in the first half. We put pressure on ourselves and allowed Coalville to dominate in too many areas. I had a few carefully chosen words at half time and made a few changes to out tactics. Once we started putting the ball into spaces we just had too much pace for them. It was an exhilarating second half but we can't really afford to reproduce our first half performance if we want to win this league".
Captain Craig Charlton added "Even 12-0 down at half time I was confident that we would win. Towards the end of the half I felt that they were tiring and that we could find another gear. We just needed to put a few phases together, once we started to do that they had no answer".
Next Saturday the Elks 1st XV are away to Matlock 1st XV while Ilkeston 2nd XV host Matlock 2nd XV.