Match Report Saturday 19th March 2005 - Semi-Final Derbyshie Cup

Ilkeston 22v36 North Derbyshire

This was a game in which Ilkeston were out thought, out fought and out scored against a side who very much stamped their arrival on the local scene having been formed only three seasons ago. They made light of their inferior league status and deserved their victory against an Elks side which must be severely disappointed with their display.

The omens of things to come were absent in the opening minutes when a Rudkin break gave Kendal a penalty chance from 30 meters which he slotted to give the Elks the lead with barely 2 minutes gone. Kendal made it 6-0 on 12 minutes after a searing break from Singleton having been fed by Matt Corrigan. North Derbyshire was adjudged to have infringed at the breakdown and Kendal made no mistake from 40 meters.

The Elks were enjoying the best of the scrummage encounters with Naylor giving his opposite number a torrid time. The visitors however were demonstrating the confidence which comes from scoring over 800 points this season and backs Graham, Liszca and McVeigh were always prepared to release wings Miller and Stevenson, and full back Colling to telling effect.

Fly half Graham reduced North Derbyshire's arrears on 16 minutes with a long range penalty and then scored and converted the try which gave them the lead at 6-10 after 20 minutes. His score came from a break and pass by the very impressive Miller. The Elks immediately responded when another break by the excellent Rudkin, supported by Faulkner gave Kendal a kick which he put over from 30 meters.

North Derbyshire increased their lead on 30 minutes when they stole an Elks line out and moved the ball wide to Miller whose blistering pace put him over in the corner. Both sets of backs were enjoying the firm ground and dry ball and entertaining a good crowd to a dazzling array of skills and pace. Crunching tackles were the order of the day with the Elks Rudkin seeming covering every inch of the field and North Derbyshire's Locke constantly making his presence felt.

Openings were created for the Elks by Taylor and Faulkner but solid defence kept them at bay until into injury time when a Singleton break gave Kendal another slot at goal which he converted to make the half time score 12-15.

North Derbyshire struck first in the second half when Flemming was turned over from the kick off. Graham collected quick ball, sold two dummies and created a run in for the line for Stevenson.

A knee injury required Jason Falls to depart from the battle to be replaced by Jones, and requiring a reshuffle of the pack with Pringle moving to prop and captain Charlton taking over the hooking duties.

Chasing the game at 12-22 the Elks responded with a Faulkner break giving Kendal an opportunity to reduce the arrears but was missed from 30 meters. North Derbyshire were now rampant and moving the ball from all areas. Try scoring tackles from Murray, Flemming, and Singleton kept the Elks in the game. Yet another Rudkin break, supported by Flemming Wiltshire and Garland should have resulted in a score but the ball was lost in contact by Faulkner.

North Derbyshire's next score came courtesy of another line out turnover put to good use by Broomhead whose finely timed pass set Miller free to race in from half way. McVeigh converted to make the score 12-29 a mountain of a task.

The Elks again came back and Rudkin was yet again the instigator. He glided through a gap and was stopped just short. The resulting penalty was quickly taken and Taylor made the most of a broken defence to score between the posts. Kendal converted and brought the score to 19-29.

Rudkin sustained an ankle injury and was replaced by Keane. Rudkin's contribution had been immense and fingers will be crossed that he will be available for the league encounter with Moderns in 2 weeks.

The Elks further reduced the deficit 33 minutes into the half with another Kendal penalty following a crunching tackle by Keane on White. This however was to be the Elks last score and the game was made safe for North Derbyshire with another Miller try and McVeigh converted on 35 minutes. The last minutes of the game were frantic and first Charlton then Taylor both came close. It was alas not to be and North Derbyshire recorded, for them, an historic victory at 22-36.

Perhaps the Elks minds were too much on the remaining 3 league fixtures but this game should serve as a reminder that a team needs to perform in order to win games. North Derbyshire fully deserved their victory in this most entertaining of games and the Elks will need to reflect on their deficiencies before resuming action on April 2nd away to Moderns.

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