ELKS IMPRESSIVE AGAIN AT THE STUTE

Classic Wines and Spirits Man of the Match – JJ Connolly

Half way through the season, with the festive midseason break now in place, the Elks look in good shape. Now lying second in the table, just one point behind Spalding, but with the leaders still having to visit the Stute where the home side is unbeaten this campaign.

The margin and the manner of the victory on Saturday was impressive, considering the conditions, against an opposition who are lying fifth in the table. Add that to the enforced changes which saw Chris Kemsley starting at scrum half, Scott Rudkin on the wing and Alan Cook at full back and the impression may be drawn that this is a side which has skill, flexibility, and strength in depth to maintain their challenge for promotion.

On a day when constant drizzle made handling difficult it was essential that the forward supplied quality ball and they duly delivered. The scrummage dominated with Mat McGuire, Jason Falls, and skipper Craig Charlton responsible for numerous turnovers and they never allowed Loughborough’s pack to settle. Adam Stoker, Rich Burne, and Adrian Montague provided usable line out ball and the breakdown ball was secured by the pace of Ben Newton, power of Steve Mahoney and decision making of Burne.

The Elks pressed from the start and two destructive scrums created a ruck close to the visitor’s line. Montague picked up and drove over. JJ Connolly’s conversion made it 7-0 after seven minutes. The home side increased their lead straight from the kick off. Connolly’s chip in behind the defence was fielded by winger Sands but Rudkin and Newton’s double hit caused him to spill the ball. Greg Taylor scooped up and raced clear. Connolly added the points from the conversion to double the lead to 14-0.

Connolly again was on the score sheet five minutes later when he converted a penalty from 40 meters when Loughborough were penalised for being off side at the ruck. He repeated the feat on twenty-five minutes to make it 20-0.

Having recovered from the blitz to which they had been subjected Loughborough fought their way into the Elks twenty -two and were rewarded with a penalty which Mayne duly stroked between the posts to reduce the deficit to 25-3 .

From the restart Rudkin, Greg Taylor and Charlton combined to take play back into Loughborough’s twenty-two. A powerful scrummage caused Loughborough problems on their own ball denying Mayne time and space. His clearance kick was charged down by Connolly who picked up and scored between the posts. The conversion of his own try left it 27-3 at half time.

Despite playing up the slope and into the breeze the Elks were soon on the offensive. A mighty shove at a scrum shunted Loughborough off their own ball at a five metre scrum and Burne picked up and charged over.

Having played his part in an impressive front row display McGuire retired to be repacked by Gordon Pringle. His first contribution to the action however saw him receive a yellow card and ten minutes in the bin. On his return he did redeem himself with a fully committed display.

While the Elks were reduced to fourteen men, Loughborough made the best use of their advantage and reduced the score through a try by Sands. From the restart Rudkin claimed the ball and put Cook in space. He fed Dan Mahoney and his charge took play close to the Loughborough line, the ball was quickly recycled and crisp hands from Connolly and Greg Taylor put Dan Taylor in between the posts. Connolly’s conversion took the score to 39-8.

To their credit Loughborough fought back and a perfectly weighted chip from full back Krarup found Brown who scored in the corner. The Elks, however, had the last word when Dan Taylor broke from a secure platform resulting from a line out and Burne’s pass enabled Charlton to race clear and crash over in the corner making the final score 44-13.

Apologies for the delayed report as Sponge was in transit from the southern hemisphere. The statistics have now been loaded despite Dick of the Day, Beef Austin, not coming up with the goods after his Tee misplacement antics.