ELKS HELD AT COALVILLE

Man of the Match - Greg Taylor

The scene was set for an encounter with two quality teams who over the years have provided pulsating games full of skill and guile. Saturday’s game kept up that tradition and the appreciative crowd witnessed a cracking game of rugby.

Ilkeston showed their intent from the kick off when the start kick was taken by Steve Mahoney and he set off on a searing break though the on rushing Coalville defence. From the resulting scrum the Elks line kick took them into Coalville’s twenty two. The Elk’s line out ball was lost and a promising attack quelled.

The Elk’s defence had to be at its best as the home side put several phases together gaining hard yards. Coalville’s Measures at fly half kicked forward into the Elk’s twenty two. Full back Dan Taylor collected, beat one man and set up a ruck from which Coalville were awarded a penalty for the illegal use of the hands. Measures stepped up and converted the penalty for the first score after nine minutes.

The Elks took the game to Coalville but again were penalised for entering the ruck from the side. Measures kick for touch took them deep into Ilkeston’s half. Another penalty against gave Measure’s his second attempt which he pulled wide to keep the score at 3-0.

JJ Connolly’s kick off was dropped and the scrum gave another opportunity for the Elks front row of Craig Charlton, Jason Falls, and Matt McGuire to dominate the set piece. Coalville were penalised in the ensuing ruck for not staying on their feet and Connolly’s line kick took play close to the home sides twenty two. Adam Stoker’s catch was driven into the twenty two only to be halted by another infringement. The penalty kick by Coalville’s fly half was gathered by Scott Rudkin whose return kick ahead was almost gathered by Steve Mahoney who in the act of gathering the ball was adjudged to have tackled the defender without the ball.

A period of attacks from both sides saw play go from one half to the other and the Elk’s midfield of Connolly, Rudkin, Greg Taylor showing pace and skill constantly broke the first tackles but couldn’t find the key to unlock the Coalville defence. Dan Taylor at full back had his work to do and was penalised after trying to regain the ball after it slipped from his hands. Coalvilles line out was dominant and a take by Wayne Killen set up another Coalville attack. The defence stood firm and a crunching tackle by Jason Falls stopped White in his tracks.

Rudkin forced his way into the Coalville half, support was on hand and a ruck formed on the Coalville twenty two in front of the posts. Dan Taylor went through the centre of the ruck and was penalised and carded for what was deemed one too many Ilkeston infringements. Coalville took advantage of Ilkeston being a man down and forced another kickable penalty. Measures converted and increased the score to 6-0 after thirty minutes.

Ilkeston attacked from the restart forcing Coalville back. Connolly’s kick found touch and a line out to Coalville. A forward pass from scrum half Twigg gave the Elks the put in at the scrum. Richard Burne picked up at No. 8 drove on, and with support from his forwards made good ground. The ball was spun out to Connolly who chipped ahead but was cleared by Lynds giving the Elks the line out. From the take Neil Stenhouse spun the ball to Connolly and on to Rudkin. A direction change and charge by Charlton, supported by Dan Mahoney at the breakdown, secured the ball. Swift hands moved the ball to Greg Taylor and his break took him to just short of the try line. The Coalville defender in the tackle helped Taylor over the line to touch down. Connolly converted to take the Elks into the lead at 6-7 after thirty six minutes.

Adrian Montague took the ball from the restart back into Coalville’s half. From the ruck Stenhouse’s high kick was cleared by Lynds for an Elks line out. A scrum for a knock on gave Coalville an opportunity to attack but this was halted with a tackle from Burne totally wrapping up the attacker and allowing his fellow forwards to win the ball and give Stenhouse chance to kick for territory. Dan Taylor came back on in the fortieth minute.

Coalville attacked again and were thwarted by a Connolly charge down and pick up. The attack through the backs gave Dan Mahoney chance to break but his move and the half came to an end when he was bundled into touch.

Ilkeston took advantage from a dropped kick off ball. Burne picked up and charged, assisted by both Charlton and McGuire in driving forward. The ball was taken to within five metres of the line. The breakdown ball was spun out and Connolly took the ball on himself and was stopped and a scrum awarded to the Elks. A big scrum was on and Coalvilles front row struggled under the pressure. From the reset scrum the Elks won clean ball which was quickly moved out to Connolly to Rudkin and to Dan Taylor attacking through the middle. The move was possibly one too many and Taylor was stopped short of the line and the attack which should have resulted in a score was lost with an attacking clearance kick. Greg Taylor sprinted from one side of the pitch to the other and brilliantly dived on the ball and into touch on half way.

Play was back and forth from one twenty two to the other. Promising threequarter attacks by Rudkin and Taylor came to nothing due to errors. Greg Taylor giving a fine performance in attack as well as defence took the ball into the home side’s half. Coalville were penalised for off side at the breakdown and a kick at goal for Stenhouse. His penalty kick was successful and took the score on to 6-10 after thirteen minutes of the half.

Coalville’s forwards attacked through the middle of the park and reached the Elks twenty two, but the scrum from the breakdown was awarded to Ilkeston with the ball trapped. The Elks won the scrum won and with the clearance kick unable to be gathered by obstruction the Elks won a further scrum down on half way. Advantage was lost to a forward pass and a scrum awarded to Coalville. Scrum half Twigg passed the ball left and quick ball through the backs forced half tackles from the Elk’s defence and Richmond joining the attack from full back went over for the try. Measures converted and Coalville took a 13-10 lead.

The Elks were unable to stop the handling errors and giving away possession through penalties at the breakdown. From one such penalty for hands in the ruck, a Coalville kick ahead was caught by full back Dan Taylor. Taylor called mark and a quick kick saw play back down into Coalville’s half and clear the danger.

Greg Taylor stopped an attack with a crunching tackle and Coalville conceded a penalty for not releasing, giving Stenhouse a shot at the posts. A kick through the middle of the uprights brought the scores level at 13-13 after thirty four minutes.

Ilkeston, looking for the win, took the game to Coalville whose only defence was attack. Penalties from both sides interrupted attacking moves. A punt downfield by Dan Taylor was dropped by Coalville giving a scrum to the Elks. However, this was quickly followed by a penalty to Coalville for hands in the ruck. Coalville kept possession from the ensuing lineout and spun the ball through the backs but a forward pass stopped their attack. The Elks won their scrum and spun the ball wide. The breakdown brought another penalty, this time penalising Coalville for hands in the ruck, and Stenhouse set himself for a kick at goal from forty metres and close to the left hand touch. The ball kept left of the posts and brought an excellent game of rugby to a close at thirteen points all.

Many thanks to Coalville for providing the photos