Match Report Saturday 25th February 2006

Glossop 21v38 Ilkeston

Todays game was supposed to have been played 2 weeks ago but the game was called off as the pitch was frozen. Today the spectators were frozen and the pitch was in excellent condition. The freezing wind was coming in from the north east where our continental neighbours were experiencing snow, at Glossop we could see black clouds approaching and hoped the game would be completed before the flurrys started, we needn't have worried.

The Elks traveled to Glossop and were immediately impressed with the new incomplete club house which, it is hoped, will be completed in the next few months. The game was just 2 minutes old when the Elks mounted their first attack when they awarded a penalty as Glossop were guilty of killing the ball. A line out and a series of scrums saw scrum half Guy Townsley engineer the ball to full back Taylor who side stepped his way 1 meter from the home side line. This laid down the style of rugby the Elks wanted to employ against a bigger and heavier Glossop pack.

It was from a knock on in the line out by Stoker which went unpunished that the Elks opened the scoring. Montague forced his way through Glossops line to pick up the ball and sprint 10 meters to the Glosoop line. Jonno Falls gauged the wind perfectly to add the 2 points for a 0-7 lead after 9 minutes.

Guy Townsley, getting his second start, and playing in his brothers position at scrum half showed that rugby skills run in the family. Townsley combined passes twice with full back Taylor after a 10 meter scrum. Townsley jinked his way passed two defenders to place the ball down close to the posts. Jonno Falls converted bring up a 0-14 scoreline after playing 13 minutes.

From the kick off Glossop had their first chance to put points on the board when the Elks were penalised for holding onto the ball. The resulting penalty kick was pulled wide. Both sides were having success in the scrums and the Elks front row of Jason Falls, Marc Moore, and Craig Charlton new they had to be in good form against there bigger and heavier opposite numbers. Both sides wanted to play open rugby and at times the ball looked more like bar of soap as handling errors reduced the continuity for both sides.

After 28 minutes Glossop scored a converted try. From an Ilkeston line out the off load was too slow and a turnover from ruck allowed the home side to score near the posts and thus the conversion a formality, score now to 7-14.

Ilkeston hit back 5 minutes later with a Tris Evans try. A lineout take by Stoker on the Elks 22 set up a maul Townsley passed out to Rudkin whose dummy created space for the impressive Taylor to weave his magic passed 3 defenders and commit the forth to the tackle and pass to Evans on his shoulder to score a superb try in the corner. Falls pulled his conversion wide to make the score 7-19 and that remained the first half score.

The second half started with Glossop having the wind at their backs were awarded a penalty when the Elks were penalised for killing the ball. Rudkins grubber restart kick didn't work as planned and from the resulting ruck Taylor quickly cleared his 22. Glossop took the line out ball and moved it swiftly through their backs which created space for the centre to go over for a converted try making the score 14-19.

Glossop had a spring in their step and were forcing Ilkeston onto the back foot. The home side were putting several phases together and denying the Elks the ball, and 3 minutes after scoring Glossop took the lead at 21-19 with another converted try by winger Murphy. Glossop won their own scrum ball and a classic no. 8 pick up and break ran through the Elks defence to set up the charging Murphy.

Paul replaced brother Guy and the normal line up was restored. Garland replaced Montague. With Pauls introduction the Elks stepped up a gear. Ilkeston went surging into Glossops half only to turnover the ball. Glossops clearance kick hit the corner flag and a scrum back was awarded to the Elks. Ilkeston brought the backs into play but another handling error gave the ball back to Glossop.

After 22 minutes Ilkeston restored their lead when the superb Townsley picked up the ball from the base of the scrum on his own 22, dummied and raced all the way escaping from 2 tackles to 5 meters from the Glossop line. Townsley passed the ball in contact to his backs who found Jonno Falls on the left wing in space to score. Falls converted his own try for the Elks to go back into the lead at 21-26.

Glossop were penalised for accidental offside and from the scrum deep into the Elks half the Elks backs made their way into Glossops 22 before winger Drew was stopped. Glossop cleared the lines for an Ilkeston line out. Stoker took his ball and a ruck was formed. From recycled ball Rudkin scored a trademark try. The Glossop defence bought Rudkins dummy and he shimmed through the gap and his way over the goal line under the posts. Falls converted and the Elks were now in command at 21-33.

The final score of the day was another scintillating move by the Elks backs. From a Glossop scrum and kick deep into the Elks 22 full back Taylor gathered the ball and set off on a jinking and side stepping run that fools the crowd as well as on coming defences. Taylor went passed three defenders before popping a pass to Drew. Drew took out a defender and supplied a pass to Faulkner who ran near half the length of the pitch outstripping Glossops backs to score in the corner. A difficult conversion attempt was missed by Falls. The Elks were in total control and at 21-38 there was no way back for Glossop.

The teams were pretty evenly matched until the introduction of Paul Townsley. His speed of thought, vision and pass was a class above and won him the man of the match award, just pipping full back Taylor who gave another quality display.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Paul Townsley

Next week the Elks travel to take on league leaders Melton Mowbray - kick off 3 p.m.

The 2's are at home to Medics 1 at the Stute - kick off 3 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match Report Saturday 12th March 2005

Glossop 14v30 Ilkeston

Ilkeston made the long trip to Glossop and were rewarded with a well deserved victory over a side which in the past have proved extremely difficult to beat on their home patch. The result keeps the Elks title challenge very much alive and sets up a pulsating end to the season with just three games remaining.

The side saw a few changes to the previous week with the return of Jason Falls in the front row and Adam Draper on the wing but still missing Faulkner, Andrew Chapman and Quinn.

The journey clearly had an effect on the Elks and found themselves 14-3 down after 17 minutes. This seemed improbable as Kendal had put the elks in front after only 1 minute after a penalty following a Falls take against the head and a Taylor break.

Glossop scored the first of their tries after 10 minutes through Cassel following a Pickerill break in the midfield. The second came from a line out in the Elks 22 which was turned into a driving maul. Quick ball to the backs exposed the midfield defence once more and Pickerill scored unopposed under the posts. Fly half Horbatchchewskys converted both.

Glossop were making good use of the strong wind and facing the visitors to play from deep positions. Backrow forwards Flemming, Murray and Prescott worked hard to ensure the ball was recycled at the breakdowns and their industry was rewarded after 19 minutes when quick ball set Draper free to make inroads into the home defence. Hallam was on hand as a link and fed Rudkin whose jinking run enabled him to touch down under the posts. Kendal's conversion put the Elks back in the game at 14-10.

Glossop should have increased their lead on at least 2 occasions before half time but resolute defence and crucial tackles kept them at bay and the Elks will have been happy to greet the half time whistle only 4 points down.

The opening exchanges of the second half saw both side struggle to gain any continuity with spilled ball and poor passing leading to breakdowns. The game was enlivened however by an exquisite piece of skill from Taylor with a scorching 50 meter break taking him from his own 22 into Glossops. Prescott and Wiltshire were on hand to win the ruck and feed rudkin. Hallam yet again provided the link with a perfectly timed pass to put Kendal over. His conversion of his own try made it 14-17.

Ilkestons task was made easier when Glossops Pickerill spoiled an otherwise impressive display by receiving a yellow card for offering rather too much advice to referee Mr Ainsworth of the Manchester Society of referees. It must be said that many of the crowd felt some sympathy with Pickerill as they too struggled to make sense of some of Mr Ainsworths interpretations. The resulting penalty was converted by Kendal from 40 meters.

Glossop made light of being one man down and took the game to the Elks. A bullocking run by veteran Stewart earned them a penalty but the chance was just short from 40 meters. The Elks continued to make good use of the elements and pin Glossop in their own half. Garland, Wiltshire and Murray were providing good line out ball and Naylor, Falls and captain Charlton were dominating the scrummage. Flemming, Murray and Prescott won the battle at the breakdown and it was only a matter of time before the Elks turned possession and territorial advantage into points.

The score duly came courtesy of the best move of the game. starting from a Garland line out take a dazzling array of scissors, looks and misses created space for Singleton who scored between the posts. Kendal's conversion was a simple affair.

Keene replaced Taylor with eight minutes remaining and his participation showed no evidence of his nearly 2 months absence with a knee injury. It was Keene who setup the ruck in injury time from which Glossop conceded a penalty. Kendal made no mistake from 40 meters, ending an impressive day with the boot and a personal tally of 20 points, leaving the score 14-30 at the final whistle.

This was an impressive, if at times patchy, performance and again showed a team playing with confidence. Glossop rarely loose at home and this was their biggest home defeat for some seasons. In this form the Elks look a good bet for promotion and eagerly await the remaining fixtures.

Next week the Elks entertain North Derbyshire in the Derbyshire Cup at the Stute. Ko 2.30 p.m.