ILKESTON DEMOLISH MELTON

Man of the Match - Adam Stoker

The game at the Stute on Saturday, between two of the three unbeaten sides in the league, promised much and duly delivered. A close encounter was expected and no one envisaged the forty minute blitz which demolished the visitors and effectively ended the contest by half-time when the Elks held a 36-3 lead.
The visitors have a reputation as a formidable set piece unit but this put to the sword by the Elks’ front row of Mat McGuire, Jason Falls and Craig Charlton. They dominated the scrimmage despite conceding several stone per man and together with the aerial ability Adam Stoker, Paul Shoebridge and Bryn Locke starved Melton of possession in the first half while providing a regular supply of quality ball for their inventive backs.
When problems did arise the ever alert Rich Burne and Steve Mahoney were on hand to steady the ship. Burne combined effectively with scrum half Josh Newton ensuring that the hard work of the front five was rewarded.
Making first use of the slope the Elks took an early lead when Melton infringed from the kick off. Jono Falls perfectly judged the strong, swirling wind to curl the ball over from forty metres. From the restart JJ Connolly’s boot put the Elks back into the visitors twenty-two and earned a lineout. Man of the Match Stoker secured the ball and Newton delivered it to the backs. A series of quick rucks and a powerful Scott Rudkin break put Shoebridge over close to the posts for a score converted by Jono Falls.
The Elks increased their lead to 17-0 with only ten minutes gone. Connolly’s long penalty kick secured a lineout close to the Melton line. Stoker again provided possession and the pack moved the ball toward the goal line. When the ball was released Alan Cook’s exquisitely timed pass put Dan Taylor into a gap. He broke a despairing tackle and crashed over. Jono Falls duly added the extra points.
Melton at last began to find some rhythm and good work by Meakin and Kempin earned them a penalty which Frior-Parry converted from close range. Their joy was, however, short lived when yet another Stoker lineout take found Jono Falls drift off his wing, appear on Connolly’s shoulder, take a pass and race away to score. He converted his own try to make it 24-3 with twenty five minutes gone.
A powerful Elks scrum saw Melton shunted off their own ball. Burne, Steve Mahoney and Newton combined to get the ball wide to Taylor. He broke the line, chipped over fullback Middleton and won the race for the touchdown. As per expectation Falls converted.
As half-time approached another mighty scrum and swift hands gave Jono Falls an outside line. He slipped the attempted tackle, shrugged off the next man and raced into the corner. For once the wind defied him and the conversion was missed leaving the Elks leading 36-2 at half-time.
The Elks made the perfect start to the second half with a converted try after two minutes. Rudkin broke from deep inside his own half. Superb inter-passing and support Steve Mahoney, Locke, McGuire, Charlton and Jason Falls swept play close to the Melton line where Dan Mahoney was dragged down inches short. Melton scrambled the ball to touch and Stoker’s eyes lit up, the Elks were not to be denied and his clean take was trundled over the line by the forwards where Steve Mahoney claimed the score. Jono Falls continued his master class in goal kicking converting into the wind from wide out and bringing his personal tally to twenty three points.
The pace of the game and ferocity of the contact began to take its toll and the Elks three replacements were introduced into the action. Cook departed with a groin injury to be replaced by Chris Kemsley, requiring a re-shuffle in the back division. Jason Falls departed with a shoulder niggle, having played a major part in the demolition of the much vaunted Melton front row, to be replaced by Gordon Pringle. The rearrangement of the front row gave Melton some respite and allowed them to gain a foothold for the first time in the game. Having played a ful part in securing the victory Shoebridge also bowed out to be replaced by Adrian Montague in the second row.
With the benefit of the slope and wind Melton dug deep and fought to salvage something from the game. Fly half Frior-Parry made use of the elements to kick into pressure positions. The Elks were called upon to dig in and demonstrate their defensive qualities. An impressive tackle count kept Melton at bay, with Rudkin and Burne to the fore, until twenty five minutes into the half when winger Rose found the pace to squeeze into the corner for Melton’s first try.
Rose repeated the feat some four minutes later, but it was too little too late. The excellent Mr Jim Richardson brought the affair to an end with the final whistle and the score at 43-13.
This leaves just two sides unbeaten in the league, the Elks and Spalding, making for a mouth watering clash next Saturday when the Lincolnshire side play host to the Elks in a top of the table clash.