Match Report Saturday 18th February 2006

Ilkeston 13-10 Loughborough

Match Report Saturday 1^st October.2005

 Loughborough 22-36 Ilkeston

 This was perhaps not the most skilful of games but it did keep a good crowd entertained for eighty minutes plus injury time on a dry, breezy, and cold afternoon.

 Both sides made every attempt to play rugby and move the ball into open spaces. The home side had a slight edge in the scrummage but the Elks with Garland outstanding, Stoker solid and Darby dependable controlled the line out.

 The two back lines showed pace and guile but a tendency to over elaborate at times. Rudkin and Faulkner combined to superb effect creating 2 tries for Faulkner while Evans, Drew, Singleton and Jonno Falls took every opportunity to exploit the gaps.

 L’boro’s Sands, Drind, and Thompson ensured that the Elks defensive duties could not be ignored and the impressive full back Keasts did not deserve to be on the loosing side. The back rows battled throughout with Thornton, Lee and Wright just edging the Elks combination of Corban, Garland and Flemming with the telling factor being size and pace.

 The foundation for the Elks victory was built around the front five where props Pringle and Jason Falls and hooker Ali Wood, never took a backward step and second rowers Darby and Stoker secured lineout ball, along with no.8 Garland and made their presence felt all over the park with crucial tackles and driving runs.

 The Elks started brightly with a Faulkner try after just 2 minutes. Quick delivery by Townsley enabled Rudkin to make a half break and feed Faulkner whose angled run wrong footed the defence for a try between the posts which was converted by Falls. L’boro quickly replied with a series of forward drives sucking in the Elks defence. When the ball was released Smith found himself unopposed and strolled over. A missed conversion left the score at 5-7 with seven minutes gone.

 Faulkner’s second try came courtesy of a Stoker line out take and precise delivery by Rudkin. Falls’ conversion gave the Elks a 9 point cushion. The Elks were enjoying control of all areas. Scrum half Townsley was exercising an array of skills which put L'boro on the back foot and create space for willing runners. Forwards Jason Falls, Pringle and Wood made most of such opportunities while backs Evans, Drew and Singleton revelled in the quick ball provided.

 A penalty arriving from a strike against the head by hooker Wood saw Townsley take a quick tap and weave his way over.

 L’boro did not capitulate and took the game to the Elks. Fly half Kemp reverted to a kicking game and tried to pin the Elks in their own half. Full back Jonno Falls and wingers Singleton and Drew negated this option by safe catching and demonstrating the willingness to counter attack.

 The final try of the half was scored by the Elks winger Singleton. A crunching Faulkner tackle on Coleman saw the ball spilled. Evans picked up inside his own 22 and sprinted away. He was stopped 2 meters short by the cover but managed to pop the ball up to Singleton who touched down between the posts. Jonno Falls converted.

 The second half was very much a story of a L’boro fight back. Their lifeline back into the game came from a 5 meter scrum when no. 8 Burbidge found space to charge over. Thompson converted.

 As the Elks absorbed pressure they conceded too many penalties and were guilty of too many turnovers. One penalty too many saw Stoker consigned to the sin bin and L’boro took full advantage of the situation.

 From a scrum on the 22 Burbridge picked up, fed Kein who put Sands over in the corner.  At 17-29 L’boro were having a purple patch. The Elks were not helping their own cause with some poor tackling and loosing the ball in contact. Their scrum and line out however stuck to the task with Stoker stealing an important ball against the throw close to his own line.

 The game was made safe with the most unlikely of tries 36 minutes into the half. A L’boro counter attack was curtailed by a Townsley tackle. The ball fell free and prop Jason Falls scooped it up. He set off on a race to the line from fully 47 meters. He closing group made no impression and Falls scored with a gliding dive. Jonno Falls converted.

 The game being made safe allowed coach to bring on replacement former colt Damon Holmes who looked comfortable at blindside and doing a good job at the breakdowns. Another young player Paul Stephenson came on for JP Singleton.

 This was a vastly entertaining game in which both sides contributed. It was dominated by two mean defences and the difference between the sides was Townsleys ability to distribute the ball under pressure and the Elks backline to turn even the slimmest chances into scores.

 Castle Brewery Man of the Match was prop Gordon Pringle.

 Next week the Elks 1^st XV are at home to Glossop while the 2^nd XV are away to East Retford. Kick offs 3 p.m.

Match Report Saturday 9th January 2005

Loughborough 12v31 Ilkeston

Ilkeston started the New Year very much as they ended the old by demolishing a spirited and abrasive Loughborough side with a stunning second half performance.

The gale force wind played a major part in the game and it was the Elks mastery of the elements which determined the outcome. Playing into the first half, the Elks defensive qualities were rewarded by restricting the home side to two tries, one converted. A 12 point deceit at the halfway mark was given scant respect and easily overturned by an Elks side playing with confidence, pace, and power.

Loughborough's first try came courtesy of a well worked line out move close to the Elks line. The try was the result of indiscipline, first by Garland and then by Andrew Chapman, which saw penalties reversed. The second of these led to a scrum from which the home side scrum half broke and fed his flanker who scored.

The wind allowed Loughborough to pin Ilkeston in their own half and exert pressure for long periods. The defensive qualities of Falkner, Taylor and Keane in the backs and Flemming, Murray and Quinn in the back row contrived to deny Loughborough time, space and quick ball. Encouraging features of the half, pointing to second half possibilities, were provided by the secured covering and fielding of the high ball by Kendal, Draper and Hallam, and the secure scrummaging of Naylor, Falls and Pringle. Breaks by Taylor and Faulkner also showed that the Elks had the skills and power to overcome the 12 point deficit in the second half.

The Elks had the perfect start to the second half. A Taylor break split the Loughborough midfield and the try was only denied by a high tackle. Kendal made no mistake with the penalty from 20 meters and made it 12-3 after just 2 minutes. Two minutes later and the impressive youngster Quinn was on the score sheet after a Murray line out take and forward drive. The move had started deep in the Elks 22 when Garland fed Murray. His pass enabled Barry Chapman to set up a ruck and support from Naylor and Falls provided ball for Andrew Chapman who put Draper away. He was bundled into touch and the resulting line out gave Quinn the opportunity to score. Kendal converted from the touchline.

The Elks were now in full flow and moving the ball with confidence from all areas of the park. A Flemming catch and a feed to Murray inside his own 22 led to a series of drives and rucks which took play into the Loughborough 22. Good use of the short side by Andrew Chapman allowed Faulkner, Hallam and Pringle to combine and produce a try for Taylor. Kendal's conversion put the Elks in front for the first time at 12-17.

The lead was increased to 12-24 with the first of two tries scored by Draper. A line out take by the impressive Murray provide quick ball for Keane whose long miss pass found Draper who powered his way through the middle. Kendal's conversion put the game beyond doubt at 12-24. Harriman replaced Quinn and Chapman replaced Falls on 33 minutes. Both made telling contributions to the game, Falls with his scrummaging and Quinn with his power and pace around the park and line out play.

The final score came with 38 minutes gone. A mistake by the Loughborough midfield was pounced on by Taylor, his pick up and chip kick set up a race between Draper and the Loughborough full back. Draper easily won and touched down between the posts. Kendal converted to end an impressive day with the boot in appalling conditions and making the final score 12-31.

This win and the dropped point by Matlock away to Coalville leaves the Elks sitting in second place in the league and still very much in touch with the leaders. In this form it suggests that the Elks challenge for the league title is still alive and the coming weeks encounters are looked forward to with anticipation.

Next week the Elks travel to Ashbourne in the first round of the Derbyshire Cup. Kick off 2 p.m.

Match Report Saturday 13th November 2004

Ilkeston 29v7 Loughborough

Ilkestons challenge for league honors took a significant step forward with this impressive victory at the Stute. Having rectified their early season problems at loosing concentration at crucial points in the game, they closed off this contest with relative ease and comfortably defeated a Loughborough side which had inflicted the Elks heaviest defeat last season.

Missing a number of players due to suspension and injury the Elks nevertheless determined to employ their natural style and entertained a large crowd by presenting a display of skill, power and pace. Loughboroughs defence had no answer to the guile of the backs and the unit cooperation of the forwards especially the backrow of Quinn, Flemming and Murray.

The Elks opened their account with a mere 5 minutes on the clock. A delightful chip from deep in his own 22 by Taylor was collected by Draper whose break was supported fist by Charlton then Harriman. Quick ball from the ruck set the backs free and a Hallam pass put Singleton in space. His sprint from the halfway line left the defence floundering as he dived over in the corner.

Two minutes later the Elks other winger Draper made good use of quick scrummage ball. A long pass from scrum-half Scott-Nelson enabled Draper to take on his opposite number. He beat him with consummate ease and raced clear from the halfway line.

At 12-0 down after only 7 minutes Loughborough could have crumbled but they showed resolve and threatened the Elks line with a determined assault, which was at first repelled by stout defence from Rudkin, Falls and Naylor. Loughborough however were not to be denied and as the Elks scrum buckled no: 8 Babage picked up and barged over. The conversion by Kemp made it 12-7 after 15 minutes.

The next 15 minutes saw the visitors dominate territorially. The Elks scrum was encountering problems and the backs were putting pressure on themselves by trying to move the ball from very deep positions.There problems were multiplied when centre Faulkner and Loughboroughs no: 4 Walker were sent to the sin bin for a spot of wrestling on the floor. Rudkin joined Faulkner 2 minutes later in what appeared to be a very harsh decision by referee Mr. Lord.

The thirteen man Elks responded manfully and made light of the disadvantage by nearly adding to their score after a Taylor break supported by Draper and Charlton. A further opportunity after a Quinn charge saw a Draper miss a penalty on the stroke of half time.

The Elks started the second half in flowing style. Draper scored his second try with barely one minute gone. The conversion by Singleton made it 17-7. With Rudkin and Falkner restored to the fray the Elks backs treated the crowd to a display of sheer class. Scott-Nelson was finding gaps around the rucks and mauls, Rudkins control fro flyhalf was creating space for Falkner and Taylor in the centre and fullback Hallam was varying his angles to join the line and cause allsorts of problems for the Loughborough defence. The introduction of Chapman ten minutes into the half gave the scrum solidarity and provided a supply of quality ball. The score should have been increased when Hallams pass to Singleton was judged forward.

The Elks were not to be denied however and a superbly weighted pass from Rudkin allowed Taylor to use his pace and jink through a crowded Loughborough defence to make it 22-7. Within ten minutes Taylor scored his second, a superb individual effort after good work by Chapman, Naylor, Harriman and Falls. Talylor converted his own try to make it 29-7 with 20 minutes left it proved to be the final score. Although besieged Loughborough kept their line intact despite close calls from Falkner, Flemming, Murray and Heathorne who had replaced Charlton. The loss of Quinn with ten minutes left reduced the Elks to 14 men and this rather hindered their ability to add to the score.

This was yet another all round impressive performance which pleased coaches Hutchinson and Rudkin who summed up the afternoons proceedings " Despite the injuries and suspensions the pack held up really well. We showed that we are developing strength in depth and their is now real competition for places. Our style of play is a real belief in what we are trying to achieve. The players have belief in their own ability and are enjoying themselves, they work very hard for each other. It will take a very good side to beat us but lets not forget their is a long way to go this season".

Next week the Elks 1st XV are away to West Bridgford and the 2nd XV are at home to West Bridgford 2nd's. Kick offs at 2.30 p.m.