Elks Victors at Bedford

After the enforced two weeks lay off due to inclement weather Ilkeston were back in action at Bedford on Saturday.

The snow had gone but the wintry conditions continued with driving rain and a chilling wind making play difficult for much of the eighty minutes. The Elks welcomed back Mat McGuire for his first start of the season, Adam Corcoran, out since October, and Pete Smith who has not featured for the last two months. This was the closest the side had been to full strength for some considerable time and even allowing for the returnees need to settle back in the performance had a far more solid look about it.

Despite the conditions both sides looked to play open adventurous rugby which inevitably led to handling errors. The Elks back row of Quinn, McKelvey and Corcoran thrived and were constantly on hand to scavenge for loose ball and benefit from the oppositions errors. Fowkes, Bennett and Moore also made their presence felt, ever willing to cary the ball and act as a link to keep play alive. In such conditions the scrum becomes a vital means of possession and McGuire and Wells provided a solid platform and made life difficult for their opposite numbers. They established a dominance as the game progressed which did not diminish in the last quarter when Hallam replaced Wells at tight head prop.

The Elks exerted the early pressure and were rewarded after eight minutes when a powerful scrum provided Haigh with perfect ball. His sniping run from the base gave him space to feed Gatehouse who crashed through tackles to score. Falls conversion gave the visitors a 0 - 7 lead. Bedford responded but the Elks defence held firm until fifteen minutes in when off side at the ruck gave Mortimer a thirty five metre penalty chance but his shot fell short. The visitors could have extended their lead minutes later when Woodheads fumble gave Smith the chance to hack on but the ball went dead.

Smith was not denied for long. Gatehouse gathered the drop out and linked with Wells who moved the ball to Greg Taylor. His long pass put Falls into space and his pass gave Smith enough room to speed around his marker and score. Falls again converted moving the score to 0 - 14 with twenty minutes gone. Bedford fought their way back into the game and enjoyed a period of possession and pressure. The solid midfield of Gatehouse, Dan and Greg Taylor denied any options with shattering tackles and the pace of Smith, Lewis Taylor and Falls could not be outflanked enabling the Elks to keep their line intact.

A break out from Quinn, Moore and Falls earned a penalty which Haigh stroked into the Bedford twenty two. Fowkes secured the line out, Moore peeled and linked with Haigh. His reverse pass fed Quinn who could not be stopped from close range. Falls again added the extras to give the Elks a 0 -21 lead. As half time approached Bedford endeavour was rewarded with a try in the corner for Breeze. Bedford drove the ball from a line out, moved it to Mortimer whose inch perfect cross field kick gave Breeze a simple touchdown making it 5 - 21 at half time.

The visitors had the worst possible start to the second half when the home side scored a coverted try with only two minutes on the clock. The restart kick failed to go ten metres, Lancaster plucked the ball out of the air and set off on the charge. A number of quickly recycled rucks earned a line out close to the Elks line. Wolfenden took the throw and fed Orton who ducked under tacklers to score. Mortimers conversion made it 12 - 21. The arrears were further reduced nine minutes in when indiscipline gifted Bedford a penalty in front of the posts which Mortimer kicked to bring his side to within six points at 15 - 21. The Elks did not panic and restored the lead to 15 - 26 two minutes later. Haigh put a penalty into the corner, Fowkes secured the ball and the forwards mauled towards the line with Corcoran on hand to claim the final touchdown and the bonus point try.

With a slender but defendable lead the Elks rung the changes bringing Rudkin on for Corcoran, Ayers for Lewis Taylor and Hallam for Wells. The fresh legs gave the visitors a defensive edge and regardless of how the home side sought to claim the game they were unable to make any inroads. The final quarter was very much a stalemate, played out between the twenty twos with the Elks keeping the ball close to the pack and dominating possession, and Bedford spraying the ball around but unable to penetrate a determined defence. This was a well deserved victory which showed signs that a return to form is at hand providing that the squad can stay clear of injuries.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match Steve Quinn.