Ilkeston 1st XV 64 v 5 Grimsby 1st XV
Ilkeston guaranteed at least a play off place with this most comprehensive of victories against a Grimsby side, who now look doomed to relegation.
On a cold, dry and sunny afternoon the Elks victory was built around a solid front five, pacey and powerful back row, and a back line that thrived on the ample supply of ball provided.
Charlton, Moore, and Jason Falls in the front row, dominated the scrums, stealing one against the head and generally gave their opposite numbers a very uncomfortable afternoon.
The second row of Garland and Stoker provided a steady stream of line out ball on their own throw, and competed so effectively on the opposition ball that Grimsby were reduced to living off scraps.
Darby, Shoebridge, and Montague, proved to be an ideal combination in the back row. Darby’s power in the tackle and strength in the maul denied Grimsby time and space. Montague made good use of the platform provided by the front five, to pick from the base of the scrum and either link with scrum half Townsley, or charge forward and set up dynamic rucks. Shoebridge was industry personified, winning ball at the breakdown and constantly available on the shoulder of the ball carrier.
Behind the scrum, Townsley linked effectively with stand off Rudkin, and kept the visitors defence busy with darts around the fringes and neat chips into space.
Rudkin had another outstanding game, full of invention and guile. His choice of pass was faultless, creating time and space for centres Faulkner and Evans and bringing full back Taylor into the attack on angles which shredded the Grimsby defence.
The pace and power of Faulkner and Evans enabled them to break tackles and set wingers Drew and Jonno Falls free. Both wingers benefited from the service provided, with Drew claiming three tries and Jonno Falls two. Falls also converted seven of the ten tries, making his contribution twenty-four points and stretching his lead as the leagues highest points scorer.
The Elks scored at regular intervals throughout the game, notching thirty-three points in the first half and thirty-one in the second.
The first score came after only three minutes. A Stoker steal at the line out and a Rudkin break, put Jonno Falls in close to the posts. Within minutes another Rudkin break enabled him to score, with Fall’s successful conversion making the score 14-0.
From the restart a scrum on halfway provided ball for Taylor coming into the line from full back. He sidestepped through the Grimsby defence and gave a perfectly timed pass to Drew. Falls converted from the touchline.
Evans was next on the score sheet. Moore took a strike against the head, Montague picked and drove forward, Garland, Stoker, and Charlton secured the ruck providing quick ball which was rapidly transferred along the back line to Evans, who powered over.
Grimsby gave themselves some hope after twenty-nine minutes with a try from Spall. Kempthorne secured line out ball, which was mauled to within twenty metres of the Elks line. From the attacking scrum, Lowery fed Pharoah who chipped ahead and Spall won the race to the touch line.
Normal service, however, was resumed within minutes. From a scrum on Grimsby’s ten metre line, Montague picked and fed Townsley, who drew a defender and put Drew clear. His try made it 33-5 at half time.
The second half followed very much the pattern of the first, with the Elks increasing their lead at regular intervals. Pringle replaced Charlton and McArdle replaced Darby at the start of the half, and both slotted in comfortably as the Elks continued their demolition of the visitors, who had no answer to the power, pace, and handling skills of the home side. Davis, Spall, Pharoah and Hill worked hard to inject some life into Grimsby, but they were chasing a lost cause as further tries were added by Faulkner, with a searing break from inside his own half, Townsley, Taylor, Drew and Jonno Falls.
To their credit, Grimsby continued to battle but they simply could not match the way in which the Elks used the ball. Their desire to move the ball from all areas of the park and the manner in which the support was always on hand to keep the ball alive, was well rewarded with the final score of 64-5.
Classic Brewery Man of the Match Jason Falls.
Next week: League game away at Melton Mowbray, KO 3.00pm.
Match Report Saturday 10th September 2005
Grimsby 13v15 Ilkeston
One would not have been at all surprised if the Lincolnshire Constabulary wished to interview the Elks side after this example of daylight robbery. Prime suspect would be Jonno Falls whose 5 successful penalties from 6 attempts rescued Ilkeston from a game they seemed destined to lose.
Injuries and unavailability's had forced coach Dave Hutchinson to make 6 personnel changes plus 5 positional changes from last week as the Elks made the long trip to Grimsby.
Kick off was delayed as motorway problems hindered the journey. Not the ideal preparation for a league encounter against a side that is notoriously difficult to beat on their own ground. These Elks, however, are made of stern stuff and they rose to the challenge magnificently.
With barely one minute gone the Elks presented Grimsby's Stringer with an easy penalty chance which he pulled wide. Stokers chasing from the 22 drop out enabled him to re-gather the ball and set Garland, Corben, and Quinn on the charge. Grimsby were penalised at the ruck and Jonno Falls opened his account from fully 40 meters.
The Elks front row of Rob Naylor, Jason Falls, and Gordon Pringle were providing a sound platform against a much heavier and more experienced Grimsby outfit and allowing scrum half Dan Taylor some valuable ball to work with.
A Taylor dart from the base of the scrum set up another penalty chance after 15 minutes which Falls converted from 50 meters into the wind. At 6-0 up the Elks must have been pleased considering how little ball they had to work with. Lack of continuity, understandable with so many changes, and unforced errors allowed Grimsby to get a territorial hold on the game. Only fine defensive work from Taylor, Pringle and Mark Flemming kept Grimsby at bay. On the 20 minute mark however, a quick tap penalty following a line out infringement, put Burke over in the corner making it 5-6.
A Jonno Falls break and a Tama Keane chip set up a chase inside the Grimsby 22. Stephenson was impeded resulting in a penalty to the Elks and Grimsby's Martin being sent to the sin bin. The following 10 minutes saw the Elks attempt to use their one man advantage, driving line outs, tapping penalties and camping in the Grimsby 22. The home side however held firm with Norman, Davis, and Newman to the fore.
As half time approached a George Derby line out against the throw and quick delivery by Taylor and Keane, caught the Grimsby midfield offside. Falls again was successful from 30 meters.
Grimsby quickly responded when the Elks were penalised in the ruck after a Corby drive. Sringer was successful from 25 meters leaving it 8-9 at halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Grimsby dominated the possession and put increasing pressure on the Elks line out and scrum. The Elks only kept them at bay for the first 20 minutes courtesy of some sterling defensive work by the entire 15 and a willingness to make the best use of the ball available.
Debutant Stephenson kept a tight rein on the nippy Daly and the second row of Derby and Adam Stoker ensured Grimsby earned every inch of territory gained. The admirable Pringle and Naylor made Grimsby work hard in the scrum and Andy Corben, Stephen Quinn, and Russell Garland scavenged for every scrap of possession. Stand in skipper Taylor inspired by example getting himself involved in every phase of play.
The Elks defence was finally broken 28 minutes into the half. Garland was sin binned following a sustained period of Grimsby pressure. The home side made full use of the extra man, a few minutes later, when no: 8 Newman scored from a 5 meter scrum. Behind for the first time at 13-12 and with time running out, the Elks redoubled their efforts. A derby line out take and charge, supported by Stoker and carried forward by Davis and Singleton, gave the Elks an attacking position. A poor clearance by Grimsby allowed Stephenson to run the ball back. His weaving progress was halted by a West tackle forming a ruck from which Burke was penalised for killing the ball. Up stepped Jonno Falls and over went the ball snatching victory deep into injury time.
At 13-15 this was a great escape but all points are gratefully received in this very tight league and the manner of the victory gave great delight to the travelling supporters. It also gave a fair indication of the strength of the Elks squad and will present some interesting selection problems for the coaching staff in the weeks to come.
Classic Brewery Man of the Match was shared by Dan Taylor and Gordon Pringle.
Next week the Elks entertain Nuneaton Old Edwardians in the Powergen Intermediate Cup Round 1 at the Stute. Kick off 3 p.m.
Match Report Saturday 29th January 2005
Grimsby 21v19 Ilkeston
Ilkeston traveled to fourth placed Grimsby knowing that they would have to be on top form if they were to take anything from the encounter. As it transpired Grimsby held on to their impressive home record and the Elks left wondering how they failed to make better use of possession and mystified by the number of penalties awarded against them by a referee who did little to encourage open play and even less to reward a spirit of adventure.
On a damp afternoon with conditions slippery underfoot, the opening exchanges were full of handling errors by both sides. The first opportunely fell to Grimsbys West who was just short of a penalty attempt after the Elks had been adjudged to have handled in the ruck.
Scrummage pressure by Naylor, Falls, and Charlton caused problems for Grimsbys midfield, after 10 minutes Faulkner and Rudkin secured the resulting loose ball and fed Chapman. His pass, inside his own 22, put Draper into space. His powerful weaving run saw him crash through tackles and outpace the covering defence to score close to the posts. Kendals conversion gave the Elks a 0-7 lead.
The Elks came close to adding to their lead 5 minutes later when a Rudkin chip and a Naylor chase led to a line out near the Grimsby line. Garlands take and forward drive from Murray, Pringle and Flemming was penalised for an offence, known only to him, and the opportunity was missed.
A mistake in midfield gave Grimsbys Lowry a chance but a fine cover tackle by Chapman ended the danger. Grimsby exerted pressure for the next 10 minutes and were rewarded with a penalty close to the line. A quick tap penalty by scrum half Pharoah, who had an outstanding game, found the Elks defence flat footed and allowed him to score under the posts. West converted to make the score 7-7.
From the restart Grimsby exerted more pressure and the Elks cause was not helped when Rudkin was yellow carded following an off the ball incident. Reduced to 14 men the Elks were reduced to desperate defence. Stout work by Murray, Wiltshire and Flemming in the back row and Faulkner, Taylor and Hallam, in the backs stemmed tide after tide of Grimsby attacks. The extra man however was made to tell and after a scrum on 5 meters Grimsbys Newman scored their second try. Wets conversion gave them a lead of 14-7 after 32 minutes.
Restored to 15 men the Elks took play deep into the opposition 22. A Murray line out take was turned into a driving maul which crashed over the try line. Charlton was credited with the touch down which made the half time score 14-12.
From the second half kick off the Elks put themselves under pressure by failing to find touch. Poor kicking out of defence was a feature of the half and a contributory factor to a poor second 40 minutes performance.
Five minutes into the half however, one would not have predicted the outcome when the Elks scored a trade mark try from deep inside their 22. Using well won scrum ball Rudkin made a searing break and fed Taylor who moved the ball onto Kendal. His pass gave Draper some space and he raced in from the halfway line. Kendals conversion enable the Elks to regain the lead at 14-19.
This was the last bright spot of the half apart from a Faulkner break and a powerful run from Taylor both of which came to nothing. Quinn replaced Pringle and Prescott replaced Falls after 25 minutes and this gave extra line out options. Jonno Falls also replaced Kendal but none of the substitutions enabled the Elks to change the pattern of the game and break Grimsbys stranglehold.
Grimsby now had the initiative and the Elks were simply responding. Failure to clear their lines meant that all attacks were started deep in their own half. Some confusing decisions relating to the ball in contact areas did not help their cause which was made even worse by the yellow carding of Murray with 8 minutes of normal time remaining. With 4 minutes of injury time played grimsby finally achieved what they had threatened for most of the half. The home side were awarded a series of penalties, all quickly taken, from which West wriggled his way over. His conversion gave Grimsby the victory at 21-19 and proved to be the last act of the game.
The Elks did not play at the top of their game but deserved greater reward from the encounter. They were the only side trying to play rugby but fell foul of the official on too many occasions while Grimsbys questionable habit of questionably slowing down the Elks possession generally went unpunished.
This defeat puts the Elks into 3rd place in the league but still very much in contention particularly next week they entertain league leader Paviors at home, kick off 2.30 p.m.
Team: Naylor, Jason Falls, Charlton, Garland, Pringle, Wiltshire, Flemming, Murray, Chapman, Rudkin, Faulkner, Taylor, Hallam, Draper, Kendal, Quinn, Prescott, Jonno Falls.