Huntingdon and District RUFC too strong for Elks

In what turned out to be a hard tackling and bruising encounter, Elks got off to a strong start from the Huntingdon + D kick off. Tippo claimed and a long kick from Joel Haigh put Elks in their 22. Huntingdon + D attack strongly and are stopped and turned over by Sam Humphries, who never stopped tackling while on the pitch.

The game swung back and forth, with Elks getting a scrum on 30m from Huntingdon line. Elks kick for lineout but waste chance with a knock on. Huntingdon + D break from the scrum up to Elks 5m line and Elks penalised for offside – Huntingdon + D take quick penalty and score on 15 minutes while Elks are slow to organise defence, convert for 7-0 – Joel Clay harshly yellow carded.

On 17 minutes Elks attack from a scrum and Huntingdon penalised for offside in 22 but no yellow this time ! JH kicks for 7-3

Continual pressure from H+ D go back into our half, but great defence from the Elks and H + D knock on , scrum won and lines to H + D half. Elks reclaim ball and strong attack see’s Elks with another 22m penalty for offside but still no yellow card for H + D – cross kick loses scoring opportunity as Elks fail to take the ball.

H + D attack from depth to Elks 22 and are awarded a penalty for not rolling away. They break from the scrum and score on 32 minutes , conversion missed for 12 – 3 . Sam Humphries injured in attempt to save the try.

Elks attack from kick off and claim the ball on 34 minutes – again H + D penalised for holding but the yellow card must be lost !! Elks kick but miss the 3 points. Elks regain and get another penalty for holding in the tackle – the lost yellow card is searched for ! JH kicks and its 12 – 6 on 35 minutes.

H + D attack strongly and a great inside pass from the 10 undoes the Elks defence and score and convert for 19 – 6 on half time.

2nd half – Ball for both teams and great defence throughout – H + D use full width of pitch and score in corner on 43 minutes to go 24 – 6 up. Elks then have a good period of ball, gaining a penalty and kick for the lineout. A super 18 phases of play sees Joel Clay scoring, 24-11 down on 55 minutes.

H + D score again , going wide on 61 minutes with great play using all their backs to go 31 – 11 up.
Elks gain another penalty and kick for the line out which is lost and H + D run the length of the pitch to go 38 – 11 up on 70 minutes. H + D are now well on top and score again after great backs play from 22m out to go 45 – 11 up.

From the kick off Elks attack hard and H + D are penalised for offside – the yellow card has been found and H + D go down to 14 men. Ilkeston scrum and again H + D are penalised and they go down to 13 men !! Elks go quick and Jake Smithurst crashed over to get back to 45 – 18 on 75 minutes. H + D get a scrum and with 6 man scrum win and go wide, with men over score again to win 50 – 18.
A hard 80 minutes for the Elks who never gave up and used all replacements with players having to go back on as well.

Special mention to several players, Sam Humphries , Joel Haigh , Chris Tipton and Joel Clay, but the man of the match goes to a player who ended up playing on front row , lock, and back row of the scrum , scored and tackled hard throughout , Jake Smithurst.

Colin Davies, Ilkeston RUFC