ELKS INCREASE POINTS DIFFERENCE OVER SPALDING

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Rich Burne

The fixture between Bakewell and Ilkeston earlier in the season saw the Elks get out of jail with a narrow 23-18 victory, hopefully the Elks had learned from the escape. Since that fixture Bakewell have taken notable scalps in the league but have lacked the consistency of the Elks, who have only lost one game in the league, and were sitting at the top of the table.

With the weather playing havoc with sporting fixtures countrywide the Stute pitch looked in pretty good condition considering how it looked after the Spalding game, although it was still not in the best condition for running rugby for which these two teams are renowned.

The Elks knew they had to deny Bakewell's backs the ball, as experience told them that their back line had an abundance of pace and quality. From the kick off the Elk’s pack were dominant and produced the kind of ball Scott Rudkin and his backs enjoy. After just four minutes they had worked their way into Bakewell’s half and were awarded a penalty shot at goal only to see JJ Connolly’s attempt land short which Bakewell the opportunity to clear back into the Elk’s territory.

After ten minutes of scrappy play Bakewell had their first points scoring opportunity when the Elks were penalised for not staying on their feet at the ruck.
However the attempt failed to leave the score pointless. The Elks tried to clear the ball back into the Bakewell half but poor hands with a combination of knock ons and balls lost in contact meant play was still in the Elk’s half.

The Ilkeston forwards were dominating and were consistently gaining ground with rolling mauls and drives. After eighteen minutes their power and guile showed when a five metre scrum was shunted to the try line for No.8 Rich Burne to claim the Elk’s first try. The conversion was missed leaving the score 5 - 0 to the home side. During the first play following the restart two players earned ten minutes on the sidelines as Ilkeston’s Steve Quinn and Bakewell’s Boam received yellow cards for a bought of attempted pugilism.

Ilkeston’s penalty count was mounting and consistently giving Bakewell the chance to score points and gain territory but the chances were scorned and the score remained 5-0 at the half time whistle.

From the kick off Ilkeston showed their intent to attack at every opportunity with the slope in their favour. From a Bakewell clearance kick the dominant Bryn Locke took his line out ball and scrum half Chris Kemsley moved the ball on to Connolly. His quick pass fed Rudkin and his dummy opened up the Bakewell defence for a trademark Rudkin try. Connolly was not having the best of kicking days as pulled the conversion wide.

The Elks continued to apply pressure and breaks by the Taylor brothers, Greg and Dan, wingers Josh Newton and Dan Mahoney were all made possible from quality quick ball from the Ilkeston forwards. However, the Elks didn’t have it all their own way as the Bakewell backs Wells and Hutch were always threatening to break through the defensive line and on fifty minutes fullback Dan Taylor made a try saving tackle to stop Sizer at the on the Elk’s twenty two metre line.
Not to be denied, Bakewell did break through and score a try in the corner after fifty eight minutes when Clegg took his line out ball and swift hands saw the ball moved to Hutch who spotted a gap which he duly went through. His break took him to within five metres of the Elk’s try line and a perfect pass to winger Duncan allowed him to fend off the last tackle to score. With the conversion missed the scoreboard read 10 - 5 in favour of the Elks.

With the sticky conditions having a great bearing on the game it was again the Elk’s forwards that moved the scoreboard on. Another good scrum led to a second pushover try from Rich Burne after sixty seven minutes increasing Ilkeston’s lead to 15 - 5 after Connolly again missed the conversion.

Connolly finally kicked his first points after seventy two minutes on the clock when Bakewell were penalised for offside, the success being greeted with hearty cheers by the Ilkeston faithful. Replacement Adrian Montague got on the score sheet after a scrum against the head was picked up by Quinn and his break through the defence and pass to the supporting Montague saw him score under the posts. Connolly converted and the score moved on to 25 - 5. Player/Coach Scott Rudkin left the field of play to be replaced by Michael Coupland for the final five minutes with the spoils in the pocket of his team.

The Elks are nothing if not persistent until the end and the last scrum of the match, ten metres from Bakewell’s line, saw the visitor’s pack going backwards again at a rate of knots. Montague went for the line and was held up short, but the defence could not stop prop Mat McGuire from grounding the ball for the final try and Connolly’s conversion made the final score 32 - 5.