Match Report Saturday 21st January 2006

Ilkeston 20v13 Syston

A towering second half performance earned the Elks a win. The victory keeps their league title ambitions very much alive and must have just as surely have ended Syston's aspirations who sat third place before this game but have now slipped to fourth.

On a day when the sun shone and with perfect conditions underfoot there could be no excuses for not playing running rugby. None were sought as both sides treated the appreciative crowd to an array of handling skills, power, pace and uncompromising tackles. All of which was sympathetically controlled by by referee Mr. Gibson-Sexton who communicated with the players, allowed advantage but did not tolerate transgression as his consigning to the sin bin of Syston's Sutliff and Ashenhurst and Ilkeston's Holmes testified.

Playing with the slope the Elks could have taken the lead twice within the first ten minutes but Thornton failed with chances from 35 and 40 meters. Ilkeston were securing good line out ball through Stoker and Garland and bringing the power of Montague and Darby into play with driving runs off the edges of the rucks and mauls. Syston also showed they were capable of securing first phase ball with Tuckey competing well in the line out and Walsh willing to work with the combative Western-Webb at the base of the scrum.

Charlton, Wood and Falls locked horns with their opposite numbers and enjoyed a very productive afternoon in the frantic front row battle. Charlton's contribution in the scrum, line out and around the park showed that he is shrugging off a series of niggling injuries and finding something like his form of old. His performance earned him the man of the match award.

Most of the first half saw play mostly consigned to the area between the two 22 meter lines. Well organised defences dominated the proceedings with few clear cut opportunities. Covering tackles by Holmes, Taylor, Faulkner, and Thornton kept the line intact although Syston's Williams should have made better use of the overlap. Townsley, Rudkin, Drew and Evans all found space but the presence of defenders denied them.

The Elks efforts were somewhat disrupted when Evans was forced to withdraw on thirty minutes with a leg injury. Guy Townsley, brother of scrum half Paul, replaced him taking up the full back spot with Taylor moving to centre. As half time approached the game remained scoreless until Syston's Croggins weaved his way over following a scrum and a series of rucks close to the Elks line. Tilson converted to make it 0-7 at half time.

The Elks made their intentions clear right from the the start of the second half. Charlton and Rudkin combined to make space for Taylor but Groom forced him into touch just short. Stoker stole the ball at the following line out, swift hands and a miss pass from Taylor enabled Drew to speed into the corner and celebrate his return from a long injury lay off.

As the Elks upped the pace their high risk strategy was matched by Systons desire to play an open game. Syston were next to score through Tilston with a penalty following a line out infringement.

From the restart a Garland line out and Stoker drive, provided ball for Taylor to make the score even at 10-10. Stokers drive had set up on half way. Townsley senior was on hand to swiftly use the ball, Rudkin made a half break and found Faulkner on his shoulder. Faulkner edged through a gap and popped the ball to Taylor who ghosted over.

Montague left the battle and was replaced by McCardle on twenty minutes. A Garland line out take and forward drive created the score for that edged the Elks in front for the first time the scorer was Rudkin who had threatened such an event all afternoon. His eel like wriggle put him over under the posts and made Thornton's conversion a formality.

Syston responded on thirty minutes with a penalty from Tilston while Holmes was in the sin bin and the Elks reduced to 14 men. As Syston pressed, a breakout by Guy Townsley supported by McCardle and Wood earned a penalty 30 meters out. A kick at goal was spurned with the Elks opting for a line out in the corner. A brave option considering the narrow four point lead enjoyed at the time but evidence that this is a side full of confidence and not scared to back their own ability.

For the remaining minutes the Elks battered the Syston line and when a further penalty was awarded the Elks took the points through Thornton and the game at 20-13.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Craig Charlton

Next Saturday the Elks travel to Coalville kick off 2.15 p.m. The Elks 2's entertain Keyworth 2's at the Stute - kick off 2.15 p.m.

Match Report Saturday 29th October 2005

Syston 25v23 Ilkeston

Ilkeston slipped to their second league defeat of the season away at Syston on Saturday. The setback however has not affected their league status as they still hold second place, 2 points behind Melton Mowbray and ahead of Lincoln on points difference.

This performance was in stark contrast to the previous weeks win over Coalville. While the win over Coalville was full of flow, invention and continuity Saturdays game rather stuttered along with the Elks failing to find their usual rhythm and lacking the killer instinct which has seen them score tries with such aplomb.

The Elks started well and went in front after 10 minutes when the metronomic Jonno Falls slotted a penalty from 40 meters. Falls was on the mark again 4 minutes later when a Faulkner break supported by Rudkin earned a penalty for a high tackle. The lead was increased with Falls third successful penalty straight from the restart. Stoker took the restart kick and charged forward. Townsley provided quick ball from the ruck and Evans sliced through a gap. Systons Croggins made a try saving tackle but was then penalised for not allowing Evans to release the ball.

At 0-9 the Elks were good value for their lead. The forwards were providing good ball with Naylor, Darby, Stoker, and Montague making their presence felt in the loose. Rudkin at fly half and centres Evans and Faulkner were finding and exploiting gaps but the final pass either failed to find a green shirt or support runners were absent.

The pattern changed after 25 minutes when prop Rob Naylor was forced to retire with a hamstring injury. This gave Syston forwards an edge in the scrums giving their backs a reliable supply of good ball and disrupting the Elks possession.

Syston applied pressure and stretched the Elks defence. Try saving tackles from Stephenson, Jason Falls, and Holmes initially denied the home side but a quick penalty by scrum half Vaughn caught the visitors flat footed and his pass to Coltman put him over in the corner.

The Elks responded within minutes when a kick at goal was spurned putting the ball into the corner for a line out. Garland's take was driven over by the pack and as the bodies peeled away Darby emerged from the melee to claim the score and make it 5-14.

As the half time whistle approached Syston pinned the Elks inside their 22. A Hull line out take was driven forward by Coltman to score his second try.

The slender 10-14 lead was always going to be in danger as the Elks started the second half by playing into the stiff breeze that they had enjoyed in the first forty minutes. The Elks task should have been made easier referee Mr Hill sin binned Westonweb as he ran out of patients with Systons habit of persistently killing the ball on the floor.

As often happens however Syston responded to being a man down and battered the Elks line. A line out close to the Elks line was driven over for Coltman to claim his hat trick and put Syston into the lead for the first time at 15-14.

From the restart the Elks regained the lead with a Jonno Falls penalty after good work by Pringle and Montague. Restored to 15 men Syston again applied pressure. Desperate defence by the Elks led to a penalty in front of the posts which Tibton converted to put them 18-17 back in the lead.

Holmes made way for Paul Shoebridge, making his first appearance for the Elks, 22 minutes into the half. Two Jonno Falls penalties first regained the lead and then stretched the lead to 18-23 during a 10 minute period when the Elks appeared to find their form. Rudkin and Townsley were the catalysts with solid support from Montagu, Shoebridge , and Stoker. An Evans break could have made the game safe but a covering tackle by Stephens denied him a score. The quick thinking Townsley was also denied when he was dragged down inches short.

The final score went to Syston and secured the points in the dying minutes. A line out inside Elks 22 was won by Tuckey and moved wide. A tibton half break was halted by Faulkner but quick ruck ball was produced and Suttcliff wriggled over. Tibton converted to make the final score 25-23.

This was a disappointing result for the Elks who never really got into top gear. The style of the game, with Syston ever ready to concede penalties, prevented the supply of quick ruck ball on which the Elks midfield thrive and as a result they were not able their pace and power into play.

Fortunately the results elsewhere went the Elks way, they maintain their second place spot and keep their challenge for the league title very much alive.

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Scott Rudkin.

Next Saturday the Elks v Mellish in the 3 Counties Cup is postponed due to Mellish playing a Powergen Intermediate Vase match.