Match Report - Saturday 18th March 2006

Melton Mowbray 20v10 Ilkeston

Congratulations to the Melton players for winning the league.

Should a Siberian Exiles team exist they would surely have felt at home at Melton Mowbray on the chilling March day. A pitch set in a vast exposure of land, without a windbreak in sight, and a wind that would have cause for concern to the most robust of brass monkeys was the setting for this top of the table clash. Ilkestons defeat ended their league title aspirations but has no bearing on the play off place which is already guaranteed.

The contest provided 2 very different styles. The home side made very good use of their bigger and stronger forwards while the Elks sought to make use of their swifter backs by moving the ball at every opportunity. This game however can not be won without the ball and Melton's tactics denied the Elks the possession required to play their more expansive game.

The first half was not of the classic variety but it was intriguing to watch and suggested that one team had the capacity to function more fluently playing a more flexible game at a higher pace. That team was Ilkeston. There was an easy rhythm to their passing game which on occasions stretched Melton's defence and Faulkner, Drew, and Evans were only denied by some unfathomable refereeing decision.

The Elks started with the wind at their backs and enjoyed the early pressure. Rudkin showed his intent early on by opting to keep the ball in hand and his outside backs into the game. A half break set Drew free but the chance was lost when the ball was spilt in the tackle. Swift thinking by Paul Townsley enable Rudkin to put Faulkner clear but a try was denied by the whistle for a forward pass, on of the many decisions that bemused the visitors.

The Elks front row of Jason Falls, Marc Moore and Rob Naylor were holding their own against their much heavier opponents and their line out jumpers Russ Garland and Adam Stoker covered their own ball thanks to the accurate throwing of Moore which defied the gale which was blowing.

The Elks recorded the first score after 15 minutes with a Jonno Falls penalty from 35 meters. Good approach work by George Darby, Rob Naylor and Tris Evans set up a ruck at which Melton's White was penalised for preventing release.

Melton responded with a period of pressure built around their forward strength. Scrum half Sexton had a good understanding with his forwards in the loose and his pop passes kept the rumbling towards the Elks line. Some aggressive tackling by Chris McCardle, Adrian Montague, Russ Garland, George darby and Adam Stoker kept them at bay but on  24 minutes no.8 Raine emerged from a rolling maul to claim a try and the score to 5-3.

From the restart the Elks were seriously disrupted when young hooker Marc Moore was carried from the field with a dislocated ankle and a broken leg. His departure saw the introduction of veteran  Edwards at prop with Jason Walls moving to hooker. This was Edwards first appearance of the season and he could not have been handed a more demanding task against the strongest scrummaging side in the league.

The loss of Moore also caused problems in the line out and the Elks cause was made even harder when Rudkin was shown the yellow card for straying offside. A decision which at best must be considered harsh as this was an isolated incident and no warnings had been issued.

The Elks fell further behind while reduced to 14 men. From a five meter scrum Raine picked  and set up a ruck which sucked in the Elks defence. When the ball was move superior numbers allowed Lomas to dive over taking the score up to 10-3.

The score remained unchanged at half time despite the Elks creating 2 good chances. Jonno Falls linked with Guy Townsley deep inside his own half and set Evans away on a powerful run but he could not escape the Melton cover from Stimpson and Williams as the line beckoned. The final act of the half saw Montague and Paul Townsley combine only for Townsley to be bundled into touch meters short.

Melton increased their lead to 15-3 in the first minute of the second half when the Elks failed to deal with the restart kick. From a ruck Meakin spotted a gap and darted through gaining just reward for a fine performance.

The Elks could have folded but instead responded immediately. From deep inside their own 22 the ball was swiftly moved through the hands of Paul Townsley, Jim Faulkner, Scott Rudkin and Adam Drew to Tris Evans. His pace took him around Williams and deep into Melton's 22. A quick ruck allowed Rudkin to feed Edwards to dive over for the try. Jonno Falls converted making it 15-10 with still 35 minutes remaining.

With the wind at their backs Melton were able to play the game deep in the Elks half through the boots of half backs Sexton and Jack. The visitors were forced to stike from deep but despite the efforts of Naylor, Darby, and Montague in the forwards and Drew, Townsley, Faulkner and Evans in the backs, they could not escape the Melton stranglehold.

When Corban replaced Jason Falls, who withdrew with a shoulder injury, the scrummage and line out task became more demanding and allowed Melton to tighten the game even further.

Melton recorded the final score of the game as the half drew to a close. From a line out on the 22 the Melton forwards rolled the ball towards the Elks line. Solid defence at first kept them out but when the ball was released centre Middleton found space to score wide out making the end result 20-10.

Hooker Marc Moore was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and will be operated on to pin his broken leg on Tuesday. Ilkeston RUFC wish Marc best wishes and speedy recovery.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Rob Naylor.

Ilkeston 2nd XV put themselves in the record books with a fantastic 124-3 victory over Dronfield 2's. Nineteen tries were scored altogether with skipper Simon Brown waying in with 3 tries as did Rich 'Davo' Davidson and 'Soupbone' Corrigan scored 4 , making it a running total of 24 tries so far this season. Ben Thornton surpassed them both with 5 tries. Forward veterans the Jones brothers only managed a try apiece but who along with another veteran Ellis Hallam, who did not score, were instrumental in keeping a good discipline for the team to score a try every 4 minutes.

Next weeks 1st XV league game is away to Oakham - kick off 3 p.m.

Ilkeston 2's entertain Worksop 2's at the Stute - kick off 3 p.m.

Match Report - Saturday 24th September 2005.

Ilkeston 25v33 Melton Mowbray

This was a game of two very contrasting styles. Melton’s proved to be the more effective one and consigned the Elks to their first defeat of the season.

 The Melton pack totally dominated the game working with a mere 30% of the possession the more adventurous home side could not escape the stranglehold applied by the visitors. The Melton style may not be attractive but it is effective and the size of their forwards, front row averaging around 20 stone, leads one to the conclusion that a diet of the famous pies has been applied in their development.

 The Elks started brightly and a Faulkner break earned a penalty from which Jonno Falls hit the upright from 40 meters. Melton took the lead shortly after when fly half Clemmons dropped a goal following a line out catch and drive.

 On 7 minutes Falls made it level with a penalty following another Jim Faulkner break with support from JP Singleton. The Elks could have taken the lead of 15 minutes when Adam Drew, there are times when not enough superlative to describe this running back, broke clear and set up a ruck. Townsley’s dart forward found Rich Jones in support, but Stoker failed to hold onto the pass.

 As the first quarter came to an end the game pattern was being established. The Elks scrum was under immense pressure. The front row of Jason Falls, Ali Wood, and the legend which is Craig Charlton were at a great disadvantage in weight and height. They had already lost one scrum against the strike and had been shunted off two. The Melton pack took their own ball in the scrum and line outs and set up driving mauls which trundled slowly up the park. When such mauls come to a halt they used their forwards to take short passes from scrum half Sexton and commit the Elks to defense.

 They Elks forwards battled manfully with Adam Stoker and Doug Darby securing line out ball, and Russ Garland at no: 8 doing his best to give scrum half Paul Townsley some protection of retreating scrums.

 A stoker line out take allowed Scott Rudkin to set Tris Evans free. Melton’s Cox prevented quick ball which gave Falls a shot at goal and Cox a spell in the sin bin. Falls duly made it 6-3.

 Living off limited possession the Elks attempted to move the ball wide. Rudkin, Faulkner and Falls, all made inroads into Melton’s territory with Townsley constantly on hand to probe any possible gaps, showing pace and guile on a number of occasions.

 Melton levelled the score on 32 minutes with a Clemmons penalty and shortly afterwards regained the lead through a Middleton try. From a line out Melton’s forwards set up a series of driving rucks. Their power and weight sucked in tacklers and when the ball was eventually released Middleton’s pace put him over in the corner. Into injury time Melton increased their lead to 6-18 with a try from hooker Prior following a series of scrums and rolling mauls.

 The Elks started the second half positively despite absence of prop Jason falls who withdrew with a shoulder injury. His replacement Gordon Pringle could not have relished his task, conceding 10 stone to his opposite number, but he battled in the scrums and added another dimension in open play with his contributions to the tackle and breakdowns. His fellow front rowers defied the battering they were receiving in the scrums, rucks, and mauls to make an impact in open play as ball carriers and support players.

 Falls reduced the arrears with a penalty to make it 12-18 and added another, from long range, following good work from Stoker, Mark Flemming, Jones and Townsley. Melton regained their margin with another Clemmons penalty following yet another line out take and driving maul.

 The ever reliable Falls put the Elks back in touch with a penalty from the restart after a Garland take and Townsley break with support from Darby.

 Despite a struggling scrum, the Elks were winning enough scraps of ball to get their backs active. Falls, Drew, and Singleton all made breaks before Rudkin made the most of a precious piece of ball from a Stoker line out take to score between the posts after a defence splitting break. Falls conversion put the Elks 25-21 up with 10 minutes plus injury time remaining.

 Stephen Quinn replaced Garland and was immediately into the action with a pick up and drive from a retreating scrum. As the game proceeded to the final whistle the Elks desperately to their slender lead. The Melton forwards turned the screw and fly half Clemmons used his boot to good effect to confine the home side to their own half.

 Melton regained the lead on 40 minutes in predictable fashion when prop Kempin charged over following a line out and rolling maul. The Elks tried in vain to salvage the game but their efforts were to no avail when flanker Cox scored from a scrum 5 meters out after 52 minutes of the second half.

 This was a very creditable performance considering the amount of possession the Elks had to work with. It does however highlight the fact that without key personnel in the front row the Elks will have difficulty in dealing with much bigger packs and to feature in promotion this area will have to be addressed.

 The Classic Brewery Man of the Match was Jonno Falls.

 Next week the Elks travel to Loughborough kick off 3 p.m.

The 2^nd XV are at home at the Stute against Nottm. Casuals kick off 3 p.m.