Elks Overcome Determined Nuneaton

Fourth from top against second from bottom should have been a foregone conclusion, even with Nuneaton having home advantage.

Nuneaton however are determined to hang on to their league status and on this display deserve to do so. Absentees again caused some problems for Ilkeston, particularly the the absence of a reliable goal kicker, but the late fight back to clinch a bonus point win shows that the desire to bag the second place play off spot is still strong.

The Elks started well and applied the early pressure but found themselves 7 - 0 down after five minutes when Sven Brown was gifted
an interception inside his own half and scored unopposed between the posts. Jones added the conversion. The home side stretched their lead when off the top line out ball was moved wide. With no apparent threat Sven Brown escaped his marker and raced into the corner to make it 12 - 0 after twelve minutes. From the restart the Elks went 17 - 0 down when Reece and Alcott created an overlap for Tay Brown to score in the corner.

Realising they had abattle on their hands the visitors at last found some continuity. The scrum delivered quick ball, Haigh moved it and crisp hands gave man of the match Ayres a chance to break the defensive line. He fed it to Smith who drew Peacock and put Lewis Taylor over in the corner to bring the Elks on the score board at 17 - 0 with twenty minutes on the clock. The score breathed life into the Elks and they applied the pressure. A promising position was squandered when an attacking line out was lost and worse was to follow when a speculative kick from Kalnins was not dealt with and Alcott was gifted a second intercepted try which Jones converted to give Nuneaton a 24 - 5 lead with thiry minutes gone.

As the half closed the Elks replied with a try by Smith. McKelvey secured a line out on half way and Gatehouse moved the ball wide. Doing the simple things well Ayres and Greg Taylor combined to put Smith in a gap and his pace took him clear. Haigh added the extras to leave it 24 - 12 at half time. Smith scored his second try early in the second half with a superb individual effort starting deep in his own half.

The absence of a reliable goal kicker looked as though it would be costly when Gatehouse missed from in front of the posts to make it 24 - 17.
Smith's try was his last contribution as in scoring he dislocated his shoulder and was forced off. His departure necessitated a reshuffle with
Greg Taylor moving to full back and Rudkin into the centre. Smithurst joined the pack in the second row with Bennett replacing Rudkin at blind side.

From the restart the lks infringed and Jones slotted a long range penalty to stretch the lead to 27 - 17. He repeated the feat three minutes later when Rudkin was penalised and sent to the sin bin leaving the Elks 30 - 17 adrift and a man down. Despite the deficit in numbers the visitors enjoyed their best spell. Lewis Taylor, Corcoran and MGuire drove play out of their own twenty two and sensing a way back the forwards started to put together phases with Fowkes, Moore and Meakin showing some of their trade mark ball carrying. Restored to full complement the Elks began to dictate play. With the scrum and line out securing ball and Haigh delivering quickly the backs at last found space.

Ten minutes remained when Gatehouse, McKelvey and Ayres earned a scrum close to the Nuneaton line. A solid platform allowed Corcoran to pick,
Smithurst and Fowkes drove him over to make it 30 - 22. From the restart Moore, Corcoran and McGuire drove the ball into the Nuneaton half and found Greg Taylor. With little space and surrounded by defenders he conjured a try of pure skill and strength to bring the Elks to within 3 points at 30 - 27.

As full time approached Haigh put a penalty into the corner. McKelvey took the throw and the Elks brought the well rehearsed driving maul into play.

Showing patience and good organisation the forwards mauled the ball over the line and McKelvey touched down for the final score of the game to give the Elks a 30 - 32 victory. This was not the most fluent of victories but it did demonstrate that the Elks are capable of grinding out a win making it five in a row, each with bonus point, and keeping a play off place alive.

Classic Drinks Man of the Match Alex Ayres