A huge travelling support for the Elks saw them eventually overcome the home side 8-12 in a clean game that was dogged with injuries. Andrew Chapman left the field after 30 minutes having been knocked out, but thankfully seems to be recovering well. Luke Bayliss replaced him at scrum half, but half way through the 2nd half he too had to leave the field with a suspected achillies injury, which was later diagnosed as torn ligaments in the shankle. Young Will Taylor stepped up to the plate to finish a strong performace from him, moving from 10 to 9.

Re-shuffles and injuries meant the whole 22 man squad played a significant role in beating Chesterfield, who opened the scoring first after 25 minutes with a well taken catch and drive from the line out. The Elks had the lions share of possession in the first half but without reward, also missing a difficult shot on goal from near the 10m line.

The Elks first try came from a sustained period of attacking rubgy with the ball going through many phases, eventually spinning wide right for Luke Bayliss to go over in the corner. Conversion missed, the scores now level at 5-5.

Chesterfied then slotted a penalty to make the score 8-5. With 15 minutes remaining Elks got their chance to reply from a searing run inside their own half by colt Sam Humphreys who ran in clear under the posts, conversion added to make the score 12-8.

Chesterfied then piled on the pressure with their heavier pack and drove over the Elks line but the double movement try was judged to have been held up over the line, so instead of a penalty it was a scrum the Elks had to deal with. Under immense pressure the ball was eventually cleared and the play moved up to half way. Older head, Ellis Hallam stepped up to close the game down and the Elks kept pinning Chesterfield back into the own 22m with several smartly placed kicks. Time eventually ran out for Chesterfield and the drained Elks were crowned champions.

Massive performances from all the players but Captain Paul Stevenson, Sam Humpreys, Kirk Widdowson and Ellis Hallam all put a shift in and need a mentioned. However, the man of the match goes to the young lock Joe Flinders in his first full season with the Elks 2s has become a real force in the line out and his work rate in defence saw him make massive hits around the fringe with a fierceness way above his slender frame.

After the match the Elks 1st XV were awarded the Derbyshire Cup by default as Glossop were unable to field a side for the Finals.

The 2nd XV cup was last won by the Elks in 1988 and yesterday, Kyle Booth and Josh Meakin joined the elite club of players along with their fathers to become one of the few club members who have achieved this difficult feat.

So the Elks are Double Champions and from memory, certainly a long time since we can claim that - if at all.