A feast of points at the Stute as the Elks downed Spalding 45-16

Ilkeston 45-16 Spalding

Ilkeston ended their league campaign on a high note with a resounding 45-16 victory against Spalding at the Stute on Saturday. In a sparkling team performance the scores were provided by two tries each from Lewis Taylor, Adam Corcoran and Steve Quinn. JJ Connolly claimed one and added further 10 points with the boot to take the total to 45 points.

Spalding fully contributed to the spectacle, always willing to move the ball and was rewarded with 2 tries for the speedy Steels and 2 penalties from Hankinson.

Injuries had forced the withdrawal of Holland and Wallace so the front row started with Pringle, Moore, and Clarke, a combination which had not previously appeared in the 1st XV starting line up. Despite the changes the pack matched their opponents in the set pieces and gained the upper hand as the game progressed.

With parity or better in the scrum and Quinn and Bennett comfortable on their own line out ball the backs had a plentiful supply of ball with which to operate and they made the most of the firm ground to weave their magic.

As so often this season the back row of Quinn, Corcoran, and Carney were the difference between the 2 sides constantly on hand to win at the breakdown, make telling tackles and act as link to keep play flowing. Carney’s non stop display earned him the man of the match award.

The Elks opened the scoring with barely 6 minutes gone. A poor clearance kick was fielded by Hallam who countered and earned a scrum inside the visitors 22. The ball was moved to midfield where Carney provided the link and put Lewis Taylor into the corner.

Spalding’s response was immediate when from a line out when Hankinson spotted space out wide and stroked the ball into the hands of Steels whose pace took him outside the defence and into the corner to make it 5-5.

From the restart the Elks reclaimed the lead with a converted try from Connolly. Gatehouse claimed the ball and linked with Quinn and Carney to take play close to the Spalding line. Quick ball from the ruck was delivered by Haigh to Connolly who skipped through a disorganised defence to score close to the posts bringing the score to 12-5.

On 20 minutes Spalding reduced the arrears when Hankinson was successful with a penalty from 40 meters. A minute later the visitors took the lead at 12-13 when they broke from their own half and a long pass from Williams sent Steels away to score his second try in the corner.

Connolly immediately regained the lead with a penalty following good work from Carney. It was extended on 25 minutes when Greg Taylor, Gatehouse, Hallam and Dan Taylor combined from deep to earn a line out close to the Spalding line. Quinn secured the throw, the ball was mauled over the line for Corcoran to claim the score extending the lead to 20-13.

As the half closed Haigh broke from deep and linked with Bennett, Chenoweth and Moore to earn a penalty which Connolly slotted to leave it 23-13 at half time.

The fourth and bonus point try was secured straight from the kick off for the second half. Bennett secured the line out ball and swift hands fed it wide for Lewis Taylor to score his second try and stretch the lead to 28-13.

Stoker replaced Chenoweth and was quickly into action to secure line out ball which was moved to midfield where Gatehouse broke the line and found Connolly who set up a ruck. Pringle and Clarke were on hand to win the ball and Dan Taylor fed Quinn who danced his way through despairing tackles to score close to the posts. Connolly’s conversion made it 35-13. From the restart Hankinson kicked a penalty from 30 meters after an offence at the breakdown.

As the game entered the last quarter Lewis Taylor departed and was replaced by Smith. His first touch earned a line out inside the Spalding half. Stoked secured the ball and Haigh’s swift pass put Greg Taylor into a gap but a high tackle prevented his progress. He opted to take a quick tap penalty and sprinted clear. He found Quinn on his shoulder and offloaded in the tackle to give him his second try and move the score to 40-13.

With 10 minutes remaining Clarke retired to be replaced by the veteran Charlton making his first appearance of the season. He made his presence felt when the Spalding scrum was disrupted to earn a penalty which Connolly put into the corner for a line out. Moore found Stoker and the forwards drove towards the line, Corcoran peeled off the maul and touched down for his second try.

This was the result the Elks needed but events elsewhere denied them the sought after playoff spot as Mansfield’s victory over Paviors enabled them to claim it.

Despite the disappointment the Elks have still achieved their highest ever league placing and still have the Derbyshire Cup Final on Easter Monday to look forward to. This event at Glossop will be a double header as both the 1st XV and Development XV take on their counterparts from Derby.

Kick offs Development XV at 12 noon and the 1st XV at 3.00 p.m.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Beau Carney.