Southwell 12v53 Ilkeston

Saturday 16th October 2004

The Elks were without a league game so a friendly was arranged against Southwell. These sides had not met for 6 years, although before leagues were introduced they had locked horns twice each season. Only 3 Ilkeston players remained from that last encounter Ellis Hallam, Scott Rudkin, and Stephen Lewis while Southwell's sole survivor was the veteran David Hunt. With the spire of the Minster bathed in bright sunshine as the backdrop, the game started and the first 10 minutes appeared to be anything but friendly as Southwell's forwards battered the Elks line. The status of the 2 sides, Southwell being one league lower, appeared to count for nothing until the Elks recovered their composure and started to show their class. The power and pace of Taylor and Faulkener enabled Rudkin to shimmy through a stretched defence to score between the posts after 11 minutes. Taylor converted.

The Elks realised that quick ball to the backs was the key to success and the remainder of the half saw them strive to achieve this, with a high degree of success, from all areas and angles on the pitch. A further 5 scintillating tries were scored without reply in the first half.

The first of these came from hooker Prescott after a searing break from Singleton. Not content with providing scoring passes, Singleton scored the next 2 tries. His first was a superb individual effort from inside his own half. Using pace and quick feet he left a confused Southwell defence floundering in his wake. The next he owed to the quick thinking and good hands of no: 8 Murray whose pass put Singleton clear and his pace carried him to the line from 50 meters out.

The other backs were not to be denied and the ever impressive Dan Taylor was next on the score sheet. Excellent work by Garland, Heathorne , and Flemming enabled Prescott to put Taylor in space for him to make it 0-27 after 20 minutes.

Upto this point Draper had not yet managed to impose himself on the game. His willingness to come off his wing and look for work was rewarded however when another Taylor break allowed Rudkin to feed an inside pass, Draper broke 3 tackles and scored between the posts. He converted his own try to leave it 0-34 at half time.

The second half saw Southwell reassert themselves and with only 5 minutes gone a Hunt interception and swift pass put Thomas in for a score. Hunts conversion made it 7-34. The Elks were however know in control and a faulkener try followed 5 minutes later after yet another break from Rudkin.

Southwell stuck to their task and again reduced the arias when sloppy work by the Elks saw a turnover at a ruck and Moor storm over from close range. The remainder of the half was all Elks and in particular Draper who scored 2 more tries to complete his hat trick, leaving the final score 12-53.

It is easy to see such a game as easy but Southwell are a side comfortably placed in their league. They have some abrasive forwards and competent backs and its a measure of the Elks class that they could take them to pieces with such ease. The backs take the plaudits but such a score could not have been achieved without the 'donkey work' provided by the forwards particularly Heathorne, Prescott, Pringle, Garland, and Chapman. Scrum half Scott-Nelson also showed he is a more than able substitute for the injured Andrew Chapman.

Coach Dave Hutchinson was not getting carried away "I have mixed feelings about it. Southwell are a competent side but even though the score suggests that we did, we never really buried them today. We were a bit too loose at times and lost concentration. We showed some really good skills and made excellent use of our power and pace but they scored 2 tries. With games like Grimsby coming up in the league we have to concentrate on keeping their end of the scoreboard at nil. Having said that it really was a joy to watch, a smashing game of rugby".

Next week the Elks are hosts against Grimsby in the league game. Kick off 3 p.m.

Next Saturday is our first Sponsors Day when we welcome all our sponsors and VP's to a buffet lunch starting at 1 p.m.