Elks Lose at Home to Local Rivals

With both sides unbeaten coming into the game something had to give at the Stute on Saturday and it was Derby who emerged with their record intact and their place at the top of the table secure.

The Elks started brightly and could have taken the lead after 3 minutes but Connolly pushed his penalty attempt wide from 40 metres. 6 minutes in the Elks suffered a setback when Rudkin received a yellow card reducing the home side to 14 men.

Making the most of the extra man Derby launched an attack from a line out on the half way line. Meadows and Robertson combined to set up a ruck close to the line and Wilmottwas on hand to pick up and dive over. Meddings conversion gave the visitors a 0 - 7 lead with 10 minutes gone.

Derby were enjoying the lions share of possession and the Elks were forced to launch attacks from deep with the limited ball they did have. Haigh, Connolly and Gatehouse tried manfully to unlock a tight Derby
defence and Hallam, Gwynne and Taylor sought space on the outside but were denied by determined tackling.

As the end of the half approached Rudkin, Mills and Fowkes drove play into the Derby half to earn a penalty but Connolly's attempt fell short.

From the restart the Elks were caught napping when Robertson broke from deep,linked with Hutchinson and put Stringer into the corner making it 0 -12 at the break.

Playing into the slope and breeze the Elks started the 2nd half with intent and urgency. Gwynne, Ayers and Gatehouse combined to take play deep inside the Derby half to earn a scrum. Moore secured the ball and
Connolly moved it wide. A half break from Taylor found support from Rudkin who offloaded to Fowkes; he stormed clear to score under the posts. Connolly reduced the arrears to 7 - 12.

Basic mistakes gifted Derby their next score when failure to find touch allowed the visitors to counter and poor tackling gave Robertson a try converted by Meddings. Connolly slotted a penalty to take the score to 10 - 19 but further tries from Robertson and Stringer stretched Derby's lead 10 - 29.

As the final whistle approached the Elks launched one final attack. Stoker and Moore linked with Lamb to earn a penalty on half way. Connolly put the ball in the corner and Chenoweth secured the line out and the ball was driven forward. As the line approached Mills peeled off ans forced his way over to make the final score 15 - 29.

Man of the match Lewis Taylor.