Ilkeston take the spoils but lowly Wellingborough fight to the end

On a blustery afternoon at the stute the Elks welcomed Wellingborough and kicked off on home soil for the first time since mid November. Fielding a full strength squad they began the game playing up the slope and into the wind.
A rolling maul from kick off by the Elks saw them penalised for offside leading to a line out inside the Elks 22, as the ball was moved into midfield the home team regained possession from the ensuing tackle with JJ Connolly clearing.
Wellingborough won possession from a line out but continued pressure from Ilkeston forced them back into their own 22. As play continued an untidy scrum in midfield saw the home team manage to secure the ball.
Ilkeston recycled the ball through several phases but turned over in the visitors 22. A poor clearance kick allowed the Elks to assert more pressure but again lost the ball in contact allowing Wellingborough to clear their lines.
A Wellingborough line out led to a ruck which was followed by a period of play in midfield with neither side showing dominance as play moved to and fro.
A solid scrum by the Elks on half way saw the visitors cough the ball up and with pressure from Ilkeston’s back row they were forced into a throw inside their own 22.
The home side continually struggled to control men in the line out due to the stiff breeze but after losing the ball possession was soon regained from a clearance kick that failed to find touch. Dan Mahoney caught the ball, he shimmied and weaved his way through several players before going over the line. The wind however dragged JJ Connolly’s conversion attempt wide taking the opening score to 5-0.
A turn over ball in midfield saw swift hands and the ball passed out to the left for Lewis Taylor to collect who crashed over in the corner. JJ Connolly converted from wide out on 20 minutes, 12-0.
Dan Mahoney broke with the ball and powered down the wing from inside his own 22, a link up in midfield with Beau Carney set him free to get a try under the posts; JJ Connolly provided the extras, putting the score at 19-0 after 25 minutes.
Wellingborough continued to show good spirit, moving quickly down the hill making light of the muddy conditions, forcing the Elks onto the back foot.
Robust defending was displayed by the home side saw but they were penalised for drifting offside of a ruck.
Wellingborough pinned the ball forward for a line out in the Elks 22. The period of pressure came to a close as the visitors were penalised for an offence in the ruck. JJ Connolly cleared the lines and kicked the ball into the breeze and up the hill.
Another period of scrappy play ensued with tricky conditions under foot causing problems to both sides. Further promising pressure from Wellingborough saw them gift the ball back to the Elks with Dom Smart kicking the ball dead.
Continuing pressure from the Elks forced Wellingborough back and with the line beckoning captain Adam Corcoran knocked on 5 metres out.
Once more the Elks scrum held all the aces and saw them shunt the visitors backwards and with Adam Corcoran picking up from the base he went over on the cusp of half time. JJ Connolly opted for a drop kick for the conversion due to the strong winds and executed it well putting the score at 26 points to nil on the half time whistle.
With a healthy lead and the advantage of playing down the hill and with the wind behind them in the second half the Elks were looking to enhance the score sheet. A promising move saw Dan Mahoney and Greg Taylor combine but the move was fluffed by Carney.
Wellingborough were looking to enforce more pressure on the Elks and make their own dent to the score line. A line out in their favour saw them deal with the windy conditions some better than the home side. However the scrum half knocked the ball on giving Ilkeston the advantage.
The visitors showing considerable resolve continued to press up the hill and a promising break from captain Kyle Danns was only halted by a last ditch attempt from Beau Carney.
Ilkeston regained the upper hand with a promising kick from JJ Connolly which forced the opposition back into their own 22. As play continued Wellingborough were awarded a line out which the Elks won and then went on to press forward through a series of driving mauls for a penalty.
Taking the option of putting the ball into touch for a line out, the Elks again showed their inability to deal with the wind as they failed to deliver the ball straight which gave the put in to Wellingborough in the follow up scrum.
The third quarter of the game was brought to a close with a fine tackle from Greg Taylor; this was perhaps the highlight of the twenty minutes which saw the Elks struggle to produce any shape or penetration in the game.
The home side then substituted prop Craig Wallace for Ben Wells at tight head. Pressing again through some good work the Elks once more stumbled at the final hurdle, spilling the ball with the line beckoning.
On 67 minutes Ben Gatehouse found his way through and with JJ Connolly converting the Elks lead was extended to 33-0.
As play was taken into the Elks 22 they were forced to defend in the dying minutes. Greg Taylor provided a booming clearance kick which relieved ex Coach Hutchinson of his beer.
In the dying seconds of the game there was a maul frighteningly close to the line but with the Elks rescuing the ball Wellingborough failed to find their way on to the score sheet leaving the result at full time 33-0.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Beau Carney

Match report by Rochelle O’Dwyer