The Elks come out on top in a 10 try game

Coalville 27-38 Ilkeston

The arrival of spring bringing a firm pitch and a little sunshine brought the best out of these 2 sides. The pulsating encounter provided 10 tries, 5 to each side, and regally entertained an appreciative crowd.

To score 5 tries and still loose must be a bitter pill for Coalville to swallow but 2 of their tries came in the dying minutes when the visitors were reduced to 14 men, after Bennett was sin binned, and made to reshuffle their recourses when Quinn and Corcoran were forced to retire injured.

The opening exchanges set the tone for the game. It was clear that both sides were relieved that the mud of previous weeks had gone and eager to release their backs at every opportunity. With pace in abundance a high try count was always on the cards and so it proved.

With the game sweeping from end to end it took 10 minutes before the opening score. Carney claimed the ball from a Coalville 22 drop out and set Lewis Taylor on a weaving run to earn a penalty in front of the posts which Connolly stroked over to give the Elks a 0-3 lead.

With both sides looking to offload the ball in the tackle the game was played at a searing pace. The more mobile Elks pack gave them the edge around the park but they did not shirk their prime duty and established an early edge, which became dominance, in the scrum. Wallace, Moore, and Holland were outstanding in the front row and superbly supported by Shoebridge and Bennett in the second row.

With such a solid platform Carney, Quinn, and Corcoran rampaged around the park and were constantly on hand to support their backs. As the visitors were establishing a slight advantage Coalville showed that anything less than 100% concentration and application would be punished. The home side stole an Elks line out throw on half way and Moretta, White and Richmond combined to put Twigg over to make it 5-3 after 19 minutes.

Connolly restored the lead when Coalville were penalised at the restart. On 26 minutes the visitors extended their lead when man of the match Dan Taylor broke through midfield, raced clear, drew the full back and delivered a perfectly timed pass to give Gatehouse a clear run to the line. Connolly converted to take the score to 5-13.

Coalville came straight back with a converted try. Chamberlain picked up from a scrum on half way, fed Twigg who sped into space and put Richmond over. Partridge converted putting them within a point at 12-13.

Twigg and Richmond combined 5 minutes later to give Coalville for the first time at 17-13. It did not take long for the Elks to respond and were back in the lead 4 minutes later. Dan Taylor again broke from deep and support from Quinn and Corcoran. Play swung across the pitch and back again with forwards and backs combining to put Smith over in the corner. Connolly’s touch line conversion made it 17-20 at half time.

As the second half started Gatehouse retired and Jono Falls came on at full back with Greg Taylor moving to centre. With the half barely 5 minutes old Dan Taylor fashioned the next score. He opened the home defence and found brother Lewis in support. The ball was taken on by Wallace and Moore and from a quick ruck Connolly dummied his way into the corner to stretch the lead to 17-25.

From the restart Quinn’s powerful running created space for Falls and he fed Dan Taylor who changed gear and dashed away from the chasing tacklers to score with an Ashtonesque dive awarded 3/10 for artistic impression by the Elks supporters.

As the game entered the last quarter the Elks should have extended their lead when Greg Taylor stormed through the home sides defence with his brother Dan in space outside but he chose to take on Richmond, instead of passing, and the chance went begging.

As the pace of the game began to take its toll the visitors scrum assumed total command and Coalville were penalised giving Connolly a simple chance to increase the lead to 17-33.

Quinn was forced off 25 minutes into the half, with Clarke coming on at pro and Wallace moving to the back row. The next score came courtesy of Smith’s break out of his own 22. His run was halted close to Coalville's line but the Elks were not to be denied and from a 5 meter scrum the ball was moved to midfield where Dan Taylor again found space and claimed his second try to take the score to 17-38.

When Corcoran was forced off with a chest injury another reshuffle was required with Hallam coming on at centre and Greg Taylor moving to wing forward. The unusual back row comprising of a loose head prop, open side and full back and the sin binning of Bennett made for a fraught last 10 minutes. Despite Coalville scoring 2 tries through Argyle and White the Elks managed to hang on to claim a 27-38 victory with a bonus point, keeping them in second place and well set for their next game against 5th placed Paviors at the Stute.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Dan Taylor.