Paviors took advantage of Elks errors to clinical effect.

Ilkeston 20-34 Paviors

Ilkeston's chances of claiming a playoff spot suffered a severe setback at the Stute on Saturday with a 20-34 defeat to local rivals Paviors. The loss sees the Elks drop to fourth in the table four points adrift of Derby who are next weeks visitors to the Stute.

An uncharacteristic first 20 minutes from the Elks decided the contest as Paviors raced to a 5-24 lead. Although they did score 4 tries, 3 in the second half, the gap was too great to close and the only consolation was that the 4 tries did earn a bonus point and keep a slim hope of a playoff spot alive.

A misfiring lineout and too many missed one on one tackles gave the visitors too much ball and too much space in which to operate. With a back line brimming with pace and skill Paviors used the advantage to clinical effect.

Paviors took barely 3 minutes to register their first score when a knock on in midfield gave them the put in to a scrum on the 22. Collingham picked and fed Billam who brushed through tackles to score between the posts. He converted his own try for a 0-7 lead.

The Elks response was immediate. Falls weaving run and chip ahead earned a line out close to the Paviors line. Corcoran took the ball at the back and barged over in the corner. Connolly’s missed conversion brought the score to 5-7.

From the restart Langham and Wallace exchanged punches and referee Mr Sharp sent them both to the sin bin to discuss their differences. Wallace was deemed the more guilty party and Paviors awarded the penalty which Billam slotted to stretch the lead to 5-10.

Failure to make tackles count allowed Paviors to claim a line out close to the Elks line. Pike secured the ball and his forwards drove him over. Billam again added the extras to stretch the lead to 5-17.

Although the scrum was providing a sound base the line out yielded too many turnovers and Paviors next try came from such a turnover after Quinn, Dan Taylor, and Moore had established a promising attacking position. Paviors moved the ball from deep and found the space to put Maugham into the corner. Billams conversion was again successful to take the score to 5-24.

One can only imagine that harsh words were exchanged at half time as the Elks started the second half with more purpose. The Taylor brothers Dan and Greg combined to break in midfield. The ball was taken by Holland, Quinn and Carney but a penalty for holding on allowed Paviors to clear the danger.

The home side did claim their second try 5 minutes into the half. A solid scrum on half way saw the ball moved to Connolly. His finely tuned pass saw Dan Taylor break and set up a ruck inside the Paviors 22. The ball was recycled and swift hands from Hallam, Haigh and Corcoran put Lewis Taylor into the corner for an unconverted try to bring the score to 10-24. As they were clawing their way back into the game mistakes gifted Paviors another score as Collingham picked from a scrum close to the line and drove over for a try converted by Billam, 10-31. Gatehouse replaced the injured Hallam requiring a reshuffle in the backs as the Elks frantically looked to save the game. A break by Haigh found support from Bennett and Chenoweth put Gatehouse on the charge but he was held up over the line. From the resulting scrum the Elks laid siege to the visitor’s line and smart work by Connolly, Dan Taylor and Gatehouse made space for Wallace to crash over for an unconverted try reducing the arrears to 15-31.

From the restart errors again presented Billam with a penalty which he duly converted to take the Paviors lead to 15-34. with only 10 minutes left on the clock.

Holland limped off to be replaced by Pringle as the Elks chased a fourth try which would earn a bonus point. A Greg Taylor inspired break out from his own 22 brought Wallace, Carney and Bennett into play and earn a scrum inside the Paviors 22. Corcoran picked and fed Haigh. Quinn and Chenoweth made hard yards and fed Wallace whose pass between his legs fed Corcoran who set up a ruck close to the Paviors line. Quick ball found Falls and his pass put Wallace into the corner for his second try and the Elks fourth.

This was a below par error strewn performance but still hugely entertaining with 4 tries each from 2 sides who like to move the ball and play at pace. On this occasion Paviors simply did it better and the Elks will have to address a number of issues in training this week as they prepare for the vital clash with Derby on Saturday.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Craig Wallace.