Games between sides at the top end of the league rarely live up to expectations but this one did in all respects. The 2 teams are renowned for their attacking rugby and their desire to entertain and on Saturday spectators left happy with the fare that had been presented.

 The difference between the sides came down to the amount of quality procession they could conjure and in this area the Elks held all the trump cards. The front row of Gordon Pringle, Jason Falls, and Craig Charlton were outstanding. They enjoyed 3 strikes against the head and shunted Coalville’s pack backwards at will. Charlton in particular caught the eye with his accurate line out throwing and his willingness to involve himself as the ball carrier in open play.

 Not to be out shone the line out also provided its share of quality ball. Adam Stoker, Bryn Locke, and Adrian Montague comfortably covered their own ball and starved the home side on theirs. Stoker towered above his opposition and managed to 8 steals on their put in.

 Any back row should thrive on such a dominant pack performance and so it proved with Locke, Steve Mahoney, and Ben Newton a constant at the breakdown and available to make some telling tackles against a very lively Coalville back line.

 Andrew Chapman was the usual reliable link at scrum half and orchestrated his forwards to pick and drive or provide quick ball for fly half Alan Cook. With time and space Cook pulled the strings feeding his midfield or turning defence into attack with long touch finders. Scott Rudkin and Dan Taylor both made welcome returns at centre, both having missed the last month. Rudkin due to a trip to his native New Zealand, and Taylor recovering from an ankle injury.

 The back 3 were solid in defence and inventive in attack. Dan Mahoney tested his opposite number with some storming runs, Jono Falls joined the line with great effect and John Britton revelled in the amount of possession and his support play earned him 2 tries.

 The game started at a furious pace with both sets of backs moving the ball at speed. It took until the thirteenth minute before the deadlock was broken. A Stoker line out was driven forward. When the ball was moved, Dan Mahoney set up a ruck in midfield. Swift ball from Chapman to Cook was then moved on to Jono Falls who in turn put Britton over in the corner.

Six minutes later a Locke line out take set up the chance for the second try. The ball was driven forward and when released Cook’s perfectly weighted pass put Taylor through a gap to score. With the Elks in the driving seat a lapse in concentration let Coalville back into the game. The ball was dropped in midfield and Hicked hacked on. He controlled his kicks ahead and won the race to touch down. Richmond’s conversion made it 7-10 which is where it stood at half time.

 The Elks continued to dominate as the second half proceeded but found it difficult to turn possession into points due to some determined defence by the home side. The breakthrough came 10 minutes in when a Rudkin break supported by Damon Holmes, Montague’s replacement, earned a line out 5 meters out. Stoker again secured the ball, the pack rumbled forward over the line and Steve Mahoney claimed the try. Dan Mahoney limped off to be replaced by John Booth, another product of the Youth Section making his first team debut.

 If the Elks thought they had the game in the bag Coalville had other ideas. From a scrum on half way, Twigg broke and sprinted clear. He drew Falls and passed onto Richmond who scored. Despite their dominance, the Elks entered the final 10 minutes a meagre 3 points ahead. As Colville chased the game a turnover in midfield sent Booth on a run. His speed and strength set up a ruck on the 22. Steve Mahoney arrived, scooped up the ball, made ground and fed Britton for his second try to make the final score 12-20.

 Classic Brewery Man of the Match – Adam Stoker.