Match Report Saturday 26th November 2005

3 Counties Knockout Shield Round 1

Ilkeston 46v7 Mellish

Compliments must be paid to the groundstaff for the excellent condition of the 1st team pitch which stood up well for this local derby in the first round of the newly revamped 3 Counties competition. The Ilkeston faithful were entertained by both sides on a cold and overcast afternoon at the Stute. Ilkeston were expected to win against a Mellish side struggling in the league below the Elks and holding bottom position. If anyone had thoughts of a walkover before the match then no-one told Mellish whos performance was well above their lowly position.

The Elks had in their side five players who had come through the from the colts in recent years. The front row ex-colts Simon Hallam with Kirk Widdowson. playing together for the first time in the Elks first team, ages added together did not come to the age of the prop Gordon Pringle. It was an afternoon which saw the new and old under pressure for most of the time.

From the kick off the Elks had an opportunity to put points on the board with a penalty for hands in the ruck but the kick at goal was pulled wide by Jonno Falls. From the clearance kick and subsequent line out Mellish signaled their intent to fight for the ball and not roll over. A scrum 10 yards inside the Mellish half was picked by Townsley and started a classic three quarter move. The referee Mr Carroll had played the advantage for the Elks and crisp passes from Keane to Faulkner to Taylor who had joined the line from full back started a dazzling run passed 4 defenders to score his first of 4 tries of the afternoon. Jonno Falls converted to make the score 7-0 after 6 minutes.

Mellish came straight back at the Elks with strong ball carrying by Grey and Greathead and ex-Elks captain Phil Justice. The Elks defense stood up well with crunching tackles from Faulkner and Evans and new recruit Chris McCardle playing in his home debut. Taylors loose clearance kick gave Clarke an opportunity to run back at the Elks. The Elks were guilty of killing the ball and the resultant penalty was missed by Cocking after 11 minutes.

The Elks scrum was put under pressure by the Mellish front row of Fretwell, Emerson and Wheatherall. Townsley did well to get ball from retreating pack out to his three quarter line. Handling errors crept into the Elks game which kept the pressure on the Elks pack with scrum after scrum. Against the run of play a penalty was awarded to the Elks when Mellish were guilty of holding on to the ball after the tackle, by Faulkner, Falls made no mistake to increase the score 10-0 after 23 minutes.

The ball went out on the full from the restart and from the scrum Townsley picked up the ball and broke away on the blind side. A perfect pass taking out 2 defenders to the supporting Taylor gave him his second try with a 35 yard dash to go over in the corner. The unconverted try brought the score to 15-0 with 26 minutes gone.

Garland and Darby were dominant in the line out and from a Darby take the Elks drove forward. Townsley miss pass was collected by Taylor who was joining the line at every occasion. Taylors searing run saw him score his third try under the posts to give a simple conversion to Falls and a score of 22-0 after 29 minutes.

Mellish continued to attack and tackles from Upton, Montague and McCardle kept out the visitors and half time could not come quick enough for the Elks as handling errors, turn overs and poor defensive kicks handed the advantage to Mellish who could not turn pressure into points and were 22-0 down at the half.

A scrum for a knock on from the restart saw the Elks scrum going backwards. The excellent Townsley still gave good passes out from a poor platform and on this occasion. a fluent backs move was almost finished off by wing Paul Stevenson who was stopped 2 meters short of the Mellish line. Mellish won their line out but a poor clearance kick was caught by Townsley who again found Taylor in support. Taylor was in superb form and his side stepping run produced his forth try under the posts. Jonno Falls converted to make the score 29-0 after 2 minutes.

Prop Simon Hallam was replaced by Charlton and the change gave little respite to a retreating pack. Mellish were dominating both scrums and possession as the Elks error count increased. It was in the period of pressure when the Elks scored the try of the day. From a scrum on the Elks 22 Townsley found Faulkner who broke through tackles to sprint upto the half way line. Evans was in support to take the pass as Faulkner drew his man. There was no stopping Evans who scored between the post. A Falls conversion brought the score to 34-0 after 14 minutes.

Mellish fought back and continual pressure on the Elks defense finally gave way after a penalty was awarded for a high tackle. Mellish took a tap penalty and the forward drive was rewarded with a converted try after 21 minutes of the second half. Three minutes later Stevenson scored his try. Garland's line out take was passed down the three quarter line ending with Stevenson racing in from 30 meters taking on and beating defenders on the outside. Falls dragged the conversion wide and the score went upto 39-7.

Evans recorded his second try form the restart. Faulkner took the pass and cythed through the Mellish defense. Evans was on his shoulder and Faulkners pass put him in the clear for a sprint to the line. The Mellish defense were catching but Evans moved up a gear to pull clear and score under the posts. Falls conversion brought the afternoons scoring to a close at 46-7 after 27 minutes.

The rest of the game saw a period of Elks domination and then a long spell of Mellish domination who were camped 5 meters from the Elks line for several minutes. Mellish could not break the defensive line. After 38 minutes prop Pringle had to be replaced after a neck injury by Hallam. Continued Mellish pressure went unrewarded and at the final whistle the Elks ran out winners at 46-7.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Dan Taylor.

Next week are back in league action at home to Ashfield. Kick off 2-15 p.m.