Match Report Saturday 15th October 2005.

Powergen Intermediate Cup Round 2 Midlands

Ilkeston 0v43 Loughborough Students

Tackling a side a league above, in a National Cup competition, is not the ideal time to be devoid of a number of 1st team regulars particularly when it is Loughborough Students boasting a number of players who have operated at International schoolboy level or who are currently attached to Premiership sides academies.

An understrength Ilkeston side may have made their exit from this cup competition but they battled throughout and a number of players can prepare for next weeks return to league action with confidence. The Elks made the decision not to risk players who may have contributed if this had been a league game and the score reflected the margin of reorganisation.

The Students controlled the game for large periods but on occasions had to thank their well organised defence for keeping their line intact. Ilkeston started brightly, playing against the slope but with a stiff breeze in their favour. They enjoyed the early pressure but handling errors denied them a score.

The first score came with the Students first incursion into the Elks territory. A speculative kick by fly half Wood was not dealt with by Stevenson resulting in a 5 meter scrum. Probes by scrum half Pilgrim and no. 8 Moss were repulsed by Holmes and Thornley, but when the ball was crisply moved, Williams found space in the corner to put the visitors 0-5 after 10 minutes.

The Elks responded with a driving maul from Darby, who made his presence felt all afternoon, and a Rudkin break. Stoker and Drew also made inroads but the Students greater presence at the breakdown prevented these chances being turned into scores.

The same superiority at the breakdown accounted for the Students second score. They controlled the ball through numerous phases combining both backs and forwards to put the speedy Melford over.

A poor restart led to a scrum on half way. No. 8 Moss picked up and drove forward, Pilgrim was on hand to break free. As the cover closed in, he found the impressive open side, Yellowlees who scored between the posts. The Elks could have rolled over but to their credit they struggled to improve their pattern on the game. The youngster Holmes, who grows in stature every game, competed in the line out and was constantly on hand in the loose. Townsley at scrum half made the most of poor possession to probe for gaps and deliver swift ball to Keane whenever possible. Rudkin and Jonno Falls sought space in midfield and Drew, Stevenson and Thornton constantly looked for opportunities to counterattack.

Debutante Motague announced himself as an effective ball carrier while Darby, Stoker and Corben worked tirelessly to get the ball across the gain line. While under immense pressure in the scrum the front row combination of Naylor, Jason Falls, and Pringle still found energy to make defensive tackles and contest the ball at the ruck and maul.

The combined efforts however could not find an answer to the Students pace and use of quality possession who added to their score from a line out take and drive to make it 0-24 with 25 minutes gone. As half time approached the Elks produced their best passage of play which deserved a score. A Stoker take against the throw was swiftly delivered by Townsley. Drew, Rudkin, Falls, and Naylor kept the ball alive through a number of phases but the Students Williams stemmed the danger by bundling Keane into touch just short. The Elks spurned 3 kickable penalties electing to run instead. First Rudkin then Montague and then Pringle came agonisingly close before the half time whistle curtailed the offensive.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first the Students enjoying the lions share of possession and the Elks making the most of limited opportunities. Widdowson replaced hooker Jason Falls 10 minutes into the half and the youngster will, I am sure, have had his confidence boosted by the fact that generally he covered his own scrummage ball, found his jumpers in the line out and carried ball in the loose. Few players will make a harder debut and he can look forward to easier afternoons in first team colours.

The ever reliable Wes Upton replaced Corben who retired battered but not bowed, having made an impressive contribution to the sides tackle count. The Students scored a further 3 tries without reply. 0-43 perhaps flattered them slightly but one had to be impressed with their ruthless execution rarely squandering a try scoring chance.

The Elks continued to battle, spurning kickable penalties and opting to run as in the first half. Rudkin, Drew, Jonno Falls, and man of the match Townsley spurred the backs to greater effort while Pringle, Naylor, Stoker, and Darby sparked the forwards and ensured the Students knew they were in a contest.

On the day the better side won, and did so with a comfortable margin. Coach Dave Hutchinson was upbeat about the result and the performance. 'You have to be realistic. This was a National Cup competition and one that we had not targeted. If this had been a league game then maybe we might have risked one or two players who are carrying injuries. These are a strong side and everyone who came performed well. It was an opportunity to give lads a shot at first team rugby. They will have learned from this and it enables them to feel part of the first team set-up. We will probably not play a better side this season. We said at the start of the season that the league was our main aim, cup competitions can be exciting but the league is the bread and butter stuff.'

Classic Brewery Man of the Match - Paul Townsley

Next week the Elks are at home to Coalville kick off 3 p.m. 2nds are way to Matlock 3's.