Ilkeston Under 12s Finish Third in NLD Shield Final

With the boys working extra hard on their fitness and getting their techniques finely tuned, it was unfinished business at the NLD finals at Nottingham Corsairs this Sunday.

The day started off early with the first match kicking off against Spalding. This was a tough game and could have gone either way, with a try a piece at half time. The second half saw Spalding go ahead by a quick break on the blind side to score their second. With the mighty Elks fired up they pulled back the equaliser. With time ticking down the young Green’s went and scored the winner with a few seconds left on the clock.

Next up was Mellish who we played a little while ago. We knew this was going to be a tough game and it certainly proved that. The game remained a stalemate for much of the match and was an exciting game to watch. Mellish eventually pipped us with a single try which ultimately was the only one of the game. The Elks showed some great discipline and kept a flat line when defending, after the try was scored. Sometimes a little to flat as they allowed Mellish to run at them. However, the guys (and gal) managed to keep them off the score sheet again.

With slightly more tries scored than the other teams in our group, we managed to finish winners of the group. That put us against a very organised West Bridgford side, who we’ve not played for a while. With the Elks starting to take some big hits, things started to turn with “The Unit” becoming our first major casualty of the day having received a knee to the back of the head. Next was Dylbert who got his first battle scar of his career with a nasty stud mark to his inner thigh. The score ended up 5-3 to West Bridgford. And Ash coming off with an injured leg.

With Ash and The Unit out with injuries, we faced a tough Mansfield side with a whole new front row. Rested for the final game was Matt and Kai, and in we saw Kendall and Appleyard as props and Estyn going back a few years to resume role of hooker. Henry and Sean as 2nd row and Joel as number 8. Joseph stepped into the scrum half, whilst Lozza stepped in to swap round with Binchy as fly half from full back. Inside centre was now Alfie, who had now swapped his leggings for shorts (probably something to do with the weather, not the acid rain). Outside centre was Dylan and Fast Jake took to the open side wing. The blind side wing saw Will who had recovered from the studding earlier. This was a great old fashioned equally matched game. Mansfield sending in the battering rams, saw the Ilkeston’s pack putting in relentless tackles. With sheer determination we managed to put two past the mighty Mansfield, who pulled one back before the final whistle.
The Elks finish Third overall in a tough battled 2-1 victory and all the Mansfield coaches and parents thrilled at what they had just been watching. By far the best battle of the day.

Well done Ilkeston under 12’s…. A great tournament and some great team work…..if it had not been for each of you, we wouldn’t have made it that far.

Player of the day : Joel Naylor

Squad of the day: Tom Appleyard, Kai Bieler, Tom Binch, Jake Burton, Jake Capewell, Dylan Harris-Joyce, Will Lowe, Alfie Manders, Ash Mason, Laurence Miller, Joel Naylor, Matt Nelson, Henry Oakes, Joseph Smith, Sean Smith, Estyn Watson & Kendall Waudby.

Supporters of the day: William Duffield and all the parents

Squad not able to make it; Aaron Bostock-Penny, Ellis Jackson, Ethan Mee, Cole O’Dwyer, Harry Blount (Thigh).