Day on the tiles for Paviours.

Last week's poor performance against the excellent Melbourne rugby club made todays short journey to Paviors Burnstump Hill ground an important opportunity to correct the already successful season . A firm pitch ensured that the spectators would be guaranteed running rugby. The Elks immediately from the kick off applied pressure on the receiver of their kick off and brought the first scrum of the day. The away teams strength dominance was shown straight away, A solid scrum enabled clean ball for scrum half Ben Middleton to provide the attacking backs. Only solid tackling from the Paviors players ensured their line was unbreached. Due to the windy conditions the first segment was even until the last moment where Paviors second row broke to score in the corner after weaving across the field through missed tackles.
Keeping the team together for the next session ensured that the confidence they had refreshed since last weeks performance continued rising. Within two minutes Ilkeston had drawn level through driving mauls led by Robbie Boddington and Billy Derbyshire with fly half Issac Smith snatching the ball to drive over the line to score his fourth try of the season taking him through 50 points for the season. Immediately from the kick off Connor Connelley caught and drove the ball closely followed by Aidan Norris who encouraging each other broke the Paviors feeble tackles for Norris to score across the line to score his eighth try of the season. With the wind behind their backs this allowed Smith every opportunity to kick Paviors backwards and at no point did the home side look able to compete with Ilkeston while they were in this mood.
Third session was both teams making sweeping changes to enable other squad players game time and allow the coaches opportunities to experiment with different partnerships. Ilkeston's forwards saw the introduction of five players and it became apparent at the first scrum that the Ilkeston pack was stronger and more compact but had lost some mobility. Again playing into the wind made all plays difficult but from a Paviors scrum at the half way line Ilkeston hooked the ball against the head, Middleton caught his opposite number unawares and through his determination broke through the wingers tackle attempt to score in the corner. Half time Paviors 5 Ilkeston 15.
Paviors coaches discussion at half time with their players had an immediate effect and the lack of mobility and support around the field was shown as Paviors drew level with two excellent tries. The home sides forwards used their height and strength to take line out ball and looked the dominant team through this segment.
Session five saw further changes made, each change allowed players to play different positions. Paviors took the lead after three minutes with an opportune try and Ilkeston's coaches feared the worst. Some feisty tackles ensured the commitment levels from both teams would be tested and every spectator was rewarded with a spectacular last 15 minutes. Ilkeston returned back to their usual performance standard and played expansive rugby passing the ball from one wing to another even allowed Smith to use his dummy pass move and make ten metres. This was obviously catching on as the ball went down the backs and Joseph Doughty showed an obscene dummy to the Paviors winger and glided through to score. Final score came through a brilliant whole team passing segment allowing Frank Hemingray to score his first try for the club in the corner and ensuring the best team won on the day. Final score Paviors 20 Ilkeston 25.

A fantastic advert from both teams of the game of rugby, complete with high levels of commitment ensured that rugby won the day. A great Ilkeston squad performance with every player contributing to the whole performance.
Backs Man of the Match - Ben Middleton
Forwards Man of the Match - James Thorpe

Squad players - Aidan Norris, Alfie Cox, Ben Middleton, Billy Derbyshire, Cameron Greenfield, Connor Connelley, Conor Corrigan, Felix Rasbusin, Frank Hemingray, Issac Smith, Jack Walker, James Thorpe, Jordan Rathbone, Jordan Pritchett, Joseph Doughty, Lawrence Ah-Weng, Luke Moore, Luke Twigger, Richard Hunt, Robbie Boddington, Sam Rose, Tom Caines & Zack Lebeter.