Elks overcome Derby to reach cup final

Elks put in one of their best performances of the season to run our 23-17 winners and reach their second NLD final as well as a league bonus point win.

Elks began the game well with the forwards winning the contact area and the backs looking to move the ball wide, unfortunately from one of these moves a loose pass was pounced upon by Derby and they opened the scoring with a try in the right corner, extras missed making it 5-0 after 2 mins.

Elks responded well and held Derby up in midfield to earn the scrum, Jake Lamb broke from the base and made 30 metres, he off loaded to Steve Mahoney to finish the move off and level the scores, extras missed making it 5-5 after 7 mins.

Elks forwards began to turn the screw and dominate the contact area, Derby started to concede breakdown penalties mainly for off feet at the breakdown, this allowed Lamb to kick for territory and with the line out working well the Elks maintained the ball and kept up the attacks.

The referee finally lost patience with the penalties Derby were conceding and produced a yellow card for one of their back rows after 22 mins.

Elks kicked to the 22 for a line out but the ball was not straight giving Derby the scrum, the Elks pack produced a mighty shove and pushed Derby off their own ball, Chris Tipton picked from the base and crashed over on 26 mins giving Elks the lead at 5-10, conversion missed.

Elks continued to dominate the Derby scrum and from another turn over ball Lamb broke blind and linked with Tom Pottinger, he made good ground and when the ball was recycled it was quickly move right to create and overlap for Richard Synott, he sprinted clear for an east try making it 5-15 after 32 mins, extras missed.

Elks continued to attack with Alex Ayres proving a handful in the centres, an attack down the left was halted with an illegal high tackle and Lamb kicked for touch, Tipton caught well and Elks attacked through Ayres, the ball was recycled and Greg and Dan Taylor linked well carrying ball into the Derby 22, Elks were penalised at the breakdown and Derby cleared.

Elks had one final attack in the half using the blind side well and working into the Derby 22, Derby were caught off side and Lamb ended the half with a ell struck penalty to make it 5-18.

Derby must have had words at half time as they began the second half well and forced the Elks into conceding 2 early penalties, Derby were soon in the Elks 22 but great work from the forwards turned the ball over and allowed Lamb to clear.

The Elks were still dominating scrums and Derby conceded another penalty for collapsing, Lamb kicked deep into the Derby 22, Tipton again took good ball and Elks attacked, Derby were again penalised and Elks kicked to touch, the line out was scrappy but the ball was recycled, Derby held up the attack and earned a scrum, the forwards again pushed Derby off their own ball and drove to the 5 metre line, Derby handled in the ruck and the full back was yellow carded on 59 mins, Tipton went quick and was held up, the ball was recycled and G Taylor was unstoppable from close range as he crashed over on 60 mins making it 5-23, extras missed.

Derby were struggling to hold back the Elks pack and conceded another scrum penalty, Lamb kicked for touch but the line out was scrappy and Elks penalised for offside.

Derby kicked deep into the Elks 22 and took good line out ball, they drove to the 5 metre line and were held up, the ball was recycled and moved left to find extra numbers out wide and score in the corner, extras missed making it 10-23 after 69 mins.

The contact area was now becoming more even as the Elks pack tired following their huge effort in the previous 70 mins, Derby took full advantage and moved play into the Elks 22, the line out was thrown long and Ellis Hallam leapt salmon like at the tail to secure ball and allow Elks to clear.

Derby continued to attack and this time it was the Elks who were conceding breakdown penalties and as they mounted G Taylor took one for the team and was yellow carded on 78 mins.

Derby took full advantage of the extra man and scored again on 79 mins, conversion added making it 17-23 as the referee called last play from the kick off, Lamb put up a great kick and Synott attacked the kick and came down with ball, it was quickly kicked dead to bring the final whistle, full time 17-23.

Elks fully deserved their victory and looked hungry from the start, the forwards dominated for large periods of the game and the backs looked dangerous with ball in hand. It was too difficult to call Man of the Match so the Elks pack get a collective one for a superb all round performance.

Elks face the winners of Newark v Scunthorpe in the Final (Scunthorpe are flying high in the league above). Next week sees a home league game against Huntingdon who turned us over at their place so let’s see the same desire as on Saturday. Kick Off 2.15