Elks Defy Conditions to Take Derbyshire Cup

Despite the atrocious conditions the Derbyshire Cup Finals day took place at the Stute, Ilkeston on Sunday.

Four games on two pitches seemed highly unlikely as a months rain fell in a few days but the tireless work of Groundsman Max Egglestone and his team of volunteers worked miracles to enable the event to take place.

The day started at 11.30 with the Presidents Trophy when Amber Valley 2nds overcame Buxton 2nds 18 - 0.

The same clubs contested the Derbyshire Shield and Amber Valley 1st XV made it a club double as they out scored Buxton 1sts 15 - 0. The second team cup saw a tight game where wind and rain restricted opportunities
and ended with with a Derby 2nds 5 - 3 victory over Matlock 2nds.

The main event, the Derbyshire Cup, saw Ilkeston entertain Matlock. This was a big ask for the Elks as their postponed semi-final game against Derby had only taken place on Wednesday night with their 15 - 13 victory earning them the final place. With driving rain and a strong gusting wind a feast of running rugby was never on the cards, and the fact that the pitch had already endured one game called for the highest of skills to cope with the conditions.

The result was always going to depend on who could cope with and adapt to the conditions. On the day it was clearly Ilkeston. They defended cleverly, soaking up long periods of Matlock pressure without giving them kickable penalties. Most telling however was the Elks ability to turn their periods of pressure into points. With every visit to the Matlock twenty two achieving a positive outcome, their pack saw their hard work rewarded. With McGuire, Moore and Wells exercising an ever growing advantage in the scrum and Fowkes, Bennett and Mckelvey securing superb line out ball from Moores excellent throwing in the conditions, the Elks were able to counter Matlocks' kicking game and always looked comfortable even when playing from deep.

Man of the match Corcoran, Mahoney, McKelvey and Quinn grovelled in the mud to secure ball and deny Matlock quick possession.

As the conditions and the physicality of the contact took its toll the bench played its part with the Elks contingent making the more telling contribution. Quinn's departure after 25 minutes, following his try gave McKelvey a full fifty five minutes to impress in the line out and around the park.

Likewise Mahoneys departure with rib problems saw the introduction of Rudkin whose ball carrying caused Matlock problems before he himself was replaced by Smithurst, full of youthful brawn and intent. The front row replacements also played their part with Meakin and Pringle representing the youngest and most senior squad members slotting in seemlessly to guarantee the pattern and style.

The Elks were first on the board when Haigh slotted a penalty after three minutes. From the restart Matlock should have scored but the presence of Greg Taylor and Townsend rescued the situation. The relief was shortlived as Young made it level with a penalty on ten minutes. The Elks regained the lead four minutes later when Corcoran scored the first of his three tries from a line out and drive.

His second and third were replicas, with the only variation being the supplier of the line out ball as first Fowkes, then Bennett, then
McKelvey acted as providers.

The Elks moved from 8 - 3 to 13 - 3 following some excellent work from Townsend and Ayers. A line out again provided the ball, Gatehouse carried and the combination of Haigh and then Quinn provided the finishing touches. Young kept Matlock in the game with two penalties to leave it 13 - 9 at half time. Matlock should have reducd the arrears at the start of the second half but sustained pressure coud not be converted and Greg Taylor's break out, linking with his brother Dan, and Ayres, earned a line out inside the Matlock twenty two to set up Corcorans second try and stretch the lead to 20 - 9.

As the game entered the last quarter the Elks pulled away with the forwards taking total control, keeping the ball alive through numerous
phases. With Lewis Taylor's break taking play deep into Matlock territiory, Meakin and Dan Taylor drove the ball on and Gatehouses deft chip set up a race to get the touchdown, which Townsend and Corcoran both claimed, and in the absence of TV replays will continue to be debated.

The score was 25 - 9. Corcoran did claim a further try on forty minutes when Pottinger linked with Dan Taylor to earn a line out. Corcoran
benefited from the well rehearsed line out drill. Matlock had the final say when well into injury time they claimed a consolation try to leave the final score 30 - 14.