Elks leave it late at Ashbourne

Despite the windy conditions both sides served up a highly entertaining game which either side could of won, thankfully for the Elks they scored in the final minutes to gain a victory 25-29.

Ashbourne began well and were soon on the scoreboard with a well-practised catch and drive from an attacking line out, conversion missed making it 5-0 after 11 mins.

Elks responded well with a break from Harry Walton who fed Aidan Norris to crash over following a strong run, extras missed making it 5-5 after 18 mins.

The Elks then had a purple patch with Tom Pottinger and Jake Lamb causing problems in the Ashbourne defence, a Pottinger break was shipped onto Walton who was stopped close to the line, Ashbourne were penalised and the ball moved quickly left for Lamb to crash over, extras added making it 5-12 after 24 mins.

Elks made a mess of the kick off and gave away a kickable penalty which was converted to make it 8-12 after 26 mins.

From an Ashbourne attack Pottinger secured a great turnover and Elks counter attacked, Ashbourne were penalised and Elks kicked to touch, Norris took clean ball and the line out was driven, Ashbourne held up the drive but quick ball came to Ayres who stormed over near the posts, extras added by Lamb making it 8-19 after 31 mins.

Ashbourne finished the half well but no further scores were registered. HT 8-19.

Ashbourne began the second half well and had long periods in the Elks half, penalties were mounting up against the Elks and following a further penalty at a ruck Brett Appleton received a yellow card on 44 mins. Ashbourne took full advantage of the extra man and were soon camped on the Elks try line, following 2 successive scrum penalties the Elks conceded a third and the ref awarded a penalty try making it 15-19 after 50 mins.

The Elks again responded well and launched several attacks through Lamb and Pottinger, this time it was Ashbourne who infringed and Elks kicked to the 22 for a line out, Norris took good ball and the line out was driven forwards, Ashbourne were penalised and Elks opted for the scrum, Pottinger picked up from the base, drew the defence and passed to Lamb who crashed over, extras missed making it 15-24 after 59 mins.

If Elks thought the game was won they were wrong as Ashbourne came straight back on the attack with strong running in the forwards, Elks again conceded penalties and after a quick tap penalty from Ashbourne was halted illegally Lamb was sin binned on 67 mins. Ashbourne continued to pressure the Elks line and finally squeezed over following several forward drives, extras missed making it 20-24 after 69 mins.

It was all Ashbourne as they took full advantage of the extra man, they continued to attack through hard running forwards and after being held up over the line they scored from a pushover try on 74 mins, conversion missed making it 25-24.

Ashbourne failed to deal with the kick off and ended up in their own 22 after a kick was charged down by Appleton Elks continued to attack the Ashbourne line and after a series of forward drives the ball was moved to the blind where Jamie Baxter manged to squeeze over for the winning score, conversion missed. Final Score 25-29.

This was a great game to watch and exciting as the result was in the balance until the final whistle, the boys can take great heart for battling back when the game seemed lost, several players stood out with Norris excellent in the line out and round the park, Lamb was again strong with some powerful running, however Man of the Match goes to Tom Pottinger who was excellent with ball in hand and gained several key turnovers along with 2 try assists.

Next week sees a massive home fixture against Ashby who sit one place below us in the league, any sort of win would put daylight between them and us.