Match Report Saturday 7th January 2006

Moderns 22-25 Ilkeston

In pulsating encounter between these two sides the Elks sneaked victory in the dying moments thanks to a superb effort from Dan Taylor. His try not only secured a victory but it also completed his hat trick and earned him the man of the match award.

Although Moderns controlled the game for long periods, enjoying territorial advantage and the lions share of possession, they lacked the cutting edge required to claim the points. Ilkeston may have lacked possession but their well organised defence kept Moderns at bay and their ability to create and take chances earned them the victory.

The Elks made the perfect start and went 0-3 up after 4 minutes with a Jonno Falls penalty. Darby's line out work secured the ball for Wood, Holmes, and Jason Falls to dive forward when Moderns Newman was penalised for preventing release.

Moderns should have leveled the score midway through the first half but Gaunt pulled his effort wide. They were however winning the forward exchanges despite the loss of no:8 Monaghan with concussion and putting pressure on the Elks line. The defensive efforts of Holmes, Darby, Rudkin and Faulkner kept the line intact until after 27 minutes when Carroll ghosted through to score under the posts. Gaunt converted to give Moderns a 7-3 lead.

As the festive cobwebs blew away in the chilly afternoon both sides upped the pace of the game. These side play a similar type of game opting to run the ball at every opportunity. Attack and counter attack brought two mobile packs and sets of pacey backs into the game. A flowing move starting inside the Elks 22 and involving Stoker, Garland, Pringle, Faulkner, and Evans could have created a try but the ball was spilled. Moderns counterattacked and only a saving tackle from Jonno Falls prevented Bevis from scoring.

As the first half whistle approached the Elks regained the lead. Garland produced off the top line out ball and Townsley's swift pass gave Rudkin a little space. He wriggled through a tackle and offloaded to Faulkner. As the tackle arrived Faulkner found Taylor on his shoulder who powered over from close range. The half time score 7-8 to the Elks.

Playing up the slope in the second half, a one point lead was a small margin of comfort for the visitors but they immediately made their intentions clear with a powerful run from Darby and a searing break by Townsley. Ten minutes into the half and the Elks lead was increased to 7-13 with Taylor's second try. Stevenson fielded a speculative Carroll kick and fed Jonno Falls infield. Falls moved the ball to Rudkin and his long pass gave Evans space. As the tacklers converged Evans switched with Taylor and his power and pace took him clear from 35 meters.

Charlton replaced Jason Falls as Moderns fought their way back into the game with a try from Bevis making it 12-13. The Elks increased their lead with Townsley try and a Falls conversion following on of the best passage of play in the game. From a ruck deep inside their own half Montague, Pringle, Holmes and Charlton drove the ball into the Moderns half. Faulkner and Evens combined to put Wood into space and his pass out of contact found Townsley who scored under the posts. The score 12-20 in the Elsk favour.

Moderns came straight back and scrappy scrum ball on the Elks line saw Norman emerge from a melee of bodies to claim a try. Gaunts conversion made it 19-20 with 10 minutes remaining. Thornton replaced Stevenson and was soon called upon to deny Beamish with a crunching tackle. Moderns the must have thought they had won the game in injury time when Gaunt slotted penalty from 35 meters to make it 22-20. They had however reckoned without Taylor. With 4 minutes of injury time played the Elks were awarded a scrum on half way. Montague picked up and attacked the short side setting up a ruck. Townsley was on hand to use the ball and found Rudkin. With a solid defence in front Rudkin opted for a long pass, missing Faulkner and Evans, straight to Taylor. His side step took him passed Radford and an arking run put him clear of the cover. A superb individual try which earned a 22-25 victory.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Dan Taylor.

The Elks next game is on Saturday 21st January 2006 when they entertain high flyers Syston at the Stute. Kick off 2.15 p.m.

Match Report Saturday 12th November 2005

Ilkeston 12v10 Moderns

On a perfect afternoon Ilkeston and Moderns strove to play entertaining rugby. Both sides attempted to move the ball wide but the plan often came unstuck, partly due to the final pass going astray but largely due to two well organised defences who rarely missed tackles and put pressure on all afternoon.

The Elks gave a second start this season to hooker Marc Moore and a debut start to back row Paul Shoebridge, Ben Thornton started on the wing and Dan Taylor returned after a long layoff with a broken hand, and slotted into the full back berth.

Playing up the slope and into a slight breeze the Elks started brightly. Garland and Stoker were comfortable in the line out and Pringle, Moore, and Jason Falls were covering their own scrummage ball. A Garland line out presented the Elks first opportunity. The ball was driven on then moved wide. Performed dummies in midfield enabled Rudkin to put Taylor into space but the ball was spilled in the tackle.

Montague set up the next chance with a powerful break from a scrum on half way. Quick recycling led to an Evans break with Taylor and Montague on hand to carry the ball forward. Holmes however was penalised at the ruck giving Moderns some respite.

After 15 minutes and much against the run of play Moderns took the lead with a gaunt penalty. Moderns Radford and Burrell produced turnover ball in midfield and put Marriott clear. Only desperate cover tackling from Townsley and Stoker prevented a try but a penalty was conceded for preventing release of the ball.

Playing at pace the Elks usual game of slick passing and support from deep was failing to make an impression or punch holes in the Moderns defence where Radford, Crossland, and Monaghan produced an impressive work rate. Rudkin probed and tried to find space for Faulkner and Evans through the middle or create openings on the outside for Thornton and Jonno Falls. Taylor worked hard to become involved from full back but the breakthrough failed to materialise.

The Elks rhythm was disrupted when Faulkner was forced to leave the field with a dead leg. Drew replaced him which led to a reshuffle of the backs.

As the end of the half approached Moderns enjoyed their best spell but the Elks defence held firm. The back row combination of Holmes, Montague and Shoebridge managed to secure crucial ball at the breakdown and 2nd rowers Garland and stoker covered the ground and plugged gaps when they appeared. Wingers Drew and Thornton shepherded their opposite numbers while the midfield, policed by Rudkin, Faulkner, and Evans, ensured there was no way through.

Having absorbed the pressure the Elks scored an excellent try four minutes into injury time. Stoker’s line out ball was swiftly moved by Townsley. Taylor made a break in midfield and when he was tackled Holmes was on hand to pick up and continue the momentum. He set up a ruck and when the ball was moved, Jonno Falls was on hand to dive over. He pulled the conversion wide leaving it 5-3 at half time.

As the second half started Jason Falls, who had been struggling with a knee injury, withdrew to be replaced by Wesley Upton. While a regular 1st team squad member Upton has extremely limited experience in the front row, usually plying his trade in the 2nd row or back row. He performed manfully in the scrums, enabled his line out jumpers to produce valuable ball, and made his presence felt in the loose particularly in the final quarter when desperate defence was called for.

The elks made the perfect start to the second half with a Taylor try after 2 minutes. Moderns won a line out inside their 22 but pressure from Holmes, Shoebridge, and Montague led to a turnover. Townsley snapped up the ball produced and fed Rudkin who chipped the ball behind the advancing defence, collected the ball and pulled a switch move with Taylor who broke 2 tackles on his way to the line. Jonno Falls conversion made it 12-3.

That score was the Elks final contribution to the scoreboard but certainly not to the game. Playing very much on the back foot as the Moderns scrum began to dominate, the Elks still attempted to play constructive rugby. Stokers dominance in the line out, ably assisted by Garland provided some ball to work with. Townsleys use of such meagre possession released pressure time after time with touch finding kicks, deft breaks and sympathetic distribution. Moore and Montague did much to be thanked for, the first covering his scrummage ball and finding his jumpers and the latter for dealing with difficult ball at the base of the scrum.

Very much against the run of play the Elks came close to stretching their lead when a Falls breakout supported by Rudkin, Garland and Townsley took the play the length of the park only to breakdown meters from the Moderns line.

With 10 minutes remaining the visitors made their dominance pay. Taking a strike against the head, scrum half Burrell and no: 8 Monaghan combined to put Freeston over in the corner. Gaunt kicked the conversion leaving it 12-10 and setting up a stomach churning final 10 minutes.

From the restart the Elks could have could have stretched the lead but the normally reliable Jonno falls pulled a penalty wide from 35 meters. The home side could have been regretting the miss had Gaunt not also missed a simple chance on 40 minutes from a penalty which saw Taylor yellow carded for preventing release.

One man down and 8 minutes of injury time to be played every whistle from Mr Sturton was greeted with silence and then either relief or indignation depending on his decision. Two of these blasts denied Moderns a score as his superb positioning enabled him to determine a forward pass and the final one raised the biggest cheer of the afternoon from the shell shocked home supporters.

The Elks had, not for the first time this season, played their ‘get out of jail’ card and collected another valuable 2 points keeping them second in the table 2 points ahead of next weeks opponents Lincoln in third place. This has the makings of an enthralling encounter.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match – Adam Stoker.

Next Saturday the Elks are way to Lincoln and the 2nd’s are away to Newark 3’s. Kick off 2.15 p.m

Match Report Saturday 2nd April 2005

Moderns 11-56 Ilkeston

Another impressive performance from Ilkeston Elks as they pursue their promotion challenge. Moderns, who sit comfortably in mid table, were brushed aside by a pack who dominated proceedings and a back line that simply had too much power, pace and slight of hand on this occasion.

With the game barely alive Hallam and the electric Draper combined to give Jonno Falls a simple penalty chance which he slotted to make it 0-3.

Ten minutes in, the Elks should have increased their lead following a jinking run from Singleton who fed Hallam but his final pass went astray. Forward pressure from the dominant Naylor, ably supported in the front row by Jason Falls and skipper Charlton, gave Jonno Falls another opportunity from 40 meters from which he duly made it 0-6 after 16 minutes.

Playing with the slope Moderns attempted to turn the Elks through the kicking of scrum half Illott and fly half Gaunt, but the Elks back three of Draper, Singleton and Falls willingness to counter attack quickly denied them that option. They resorted to using the forward drive off the fringes but could not find a passage through Flemming, Murray and Wiltshire as a back row combination and Rudkin, Faulkner and Hallam as a midfield barrier.

Power, pace, agility and skill combined to put the first try on the board. Rudkins trademark break setup a ruck, the evergreen Pringle, who must be in contention for player of the year, was on hand to provide the link. The ball was swiftly moved wide where Jonno Falls was on hand to feed Draper who executed the expected and stormed over from 35 meters. Falls conversion made it 0-13.

Within 2 minutes Drapers fitness was tested having missed 3 weeks, when he intercepted a pass on his own line. His 100 meter dash left the opposition in his wake and gave Falls an easy conversion to make it 0-20.

From the restart a Garland take and feed to Flemming set up a ruck and quick ball to Rudkin, his pass put Draper free inside his own half. His batteries not fully recharged however, Draper was hauled down by a cover tackle but the ball was made available for Pringle who strolled over from 30 meters.

Moderns eventually got on the scoreboard after 30 minutes when the Elks were penalised at a line out and Gaunt made it 3-25.

Murray and Rudkin were having outstanding days and it was fitting that they should combine to provide the next score. A scrum take against the head led to a Murray break. His power enabled him to crash through numerous tackles and feed Rudkin on his inside shoulder who strolled between the posts. Falls added the conversion.

Murray was rewarded for his industry with the next score. A quickly taken penalty earned a line out close to the Moderns line. A turnover ball courtesy of Wiltshire was driven on with Charlton, Garland and Naylor providing the impetus to put Murray over and claim the score. Falls was spot on from wide out. Mr Sturton, the referee, gave Moderns some respite with his half time whistle and a mountain to climb at 3-39.

he next score did come however, barely 6 minutes into the half when a superbly executed line out move involving Charlton, Garland and Flemming created space for Rudkin and Singleton. To give Draper a simple touchdown.

At 3-44 down one would have expected Moderns to crumble but to their credit they clawed their way back into the game. The desire and work rate of a beaten pack with the veteran, and ex- 3 Counties player Jowett was outstanding posed some problems for the Elks side that should have been more totally in charge. The retirement of Jason Falls from the fray slightly hindered matters and required reorganisation with Pringle moving to front row, Rudkin to back row and introducing Keane to take over the fly half berth.

The reorganisation did not hinder proceedings and another line out take against the throw by Wiltshire created a try for Jonno Falls after some sublime midfield handling by Keane, Faulkner, Hallam and Singleton.

Moderns responded with a penalty by Gaunt but from the restart a powerful Murray drive enable Faulkner to break and scorch over from halfway.

With a clear 50 point lead the Elks took their foot off the pedal and Moderns enjoyed their best spell and were awarded a consolation try by the industrious Jowett, making the final score 11-56.

The Elks will look forward with confidence for their all important clash with Matlock at the Stute next Saturday, kick off 3 p.m.