Elks Disappoint Large Crowd

A larger than normal crowd bolstered by attendees of the Past Players Lunch assembled at The Stute for the eagerly awaited clash against county rivals Matlock.

Despite the respective league positions the visitors arrived in Ilkeston full of confidence after an impressive string of victories, always tough opposition this was unlikely to be an easy ride for the hosts.

From the kick off Matlock spilled the ball and playing the advantage Ilkeston immediately moved the ball wide only to put the ball to ground themselves. The speedy Matlock wing gathered the loose ball inside his own 22 and raced the length of the pitch to open the scoring within the first minute. Most of the home support was still filtering out of the Clubhouse as the conversion was landed and the visitors took a 7 point lead.

A nervous and scrappy period followed as the early exchanges continued with both sides guilty of handling errors.

The hosts slowly settled into the game and warmed to the task at hand putting Matlock under sustained pressure. Good ball from a line out just inside the visitor’s half saw Alex Ayres make the first significant line break which resulted in a penalty to Ilkeston which Jake Lamb drilled to the corner. More good possession witnessed the home punch holes into a well drilled defence which but for another handling error at a critical moment would have generated a better result.

Continued pressure by the Elks led to another line out deep in Matlock territory and this time the home side backs showed safe hands to allow Jono Falls to force his way over in the corner. A superb touchline conversion by Joel Haigh levelled the scores at 7 points each on 25 minutes.

The first half continued in the same vein with Matlock struggling to get out of their own half…on the rare occasions that they did so they met a solid Ilkeston defence and just before half time the Elks conjuring a second score which was almost a carbon copy of the first as Falls again crossed in the corner.

Half time arrived with the home side ahead 12 – 7 and clearly on top…surely it was only a matter of time before this side that have been so impressive in recent weeks found their form and but their rivals to the sword.

The early exchanges in the second half witnessed differing wing styles as first the dangerous Matlock left wing went on a pacey meandering run and then in turn Lewis Taylor the home side left wing went on a dancing run!

The first half pattern continued and Ilkeston were camped in the Mattock half. A strong midfield break by Dan Taylor led to the visitors infringing and Lamb drove the penalty to the corner. Ilkeston won the line out comfortably and the forwards drove to the line however both sides were again guilty of handling errors and a lack of control before Dan Taylor pounced on a loose ball to waltz through the Matlock defence to touchdown which Haigh duly converted.

Almost from the restart Greg Taylor made good ground to take the Elks into the visitors 22. Matlock won the ball at the breakdown and fed their winger who again showed a devastating turn of pace to put the home side firmly on the back foot…despite covering the break Ilkeston were guilty of a disastrous passage of play which witnessed them yield the ball and miss tackles to allow Matlock to score under the posts.

Within minutes the previous errors were compounded as some fairly innocuous play by both sides ended with the visitors scoring a further try after further poor defensive work by the home side.

19 points each with 20 minutes to play.

Ilkeston had let Matlock back into the game as a hitherto impressive defence this season was leaking…this was not the side that the faithful had become used to watching and the error strewn performance seemed to fill the opposition with confidence having the opposite effect on the Elks.

Despite exchanging penalties to take the score to 22 – 22 there was something about the visiting side now that left the home crowd feeling nervous about the outcome. Credit due where credit due Matlock had fought their way back into the match and the sense was that they could grind their way to victory through a combination of gritty obstinate forward play sprinkled with the odd glimpse of raw pace out wide that Ilkeston had found difficulty with all afternoon.

Matlock now put Ilkeston under pressure and desperate defence and a resulting infringement yielded Matlock an easy 3 point opportunity which they accepted…worse still was the yellow card for Ayres that reduced the Elks to 10 men for what turned out to be for the rest of the match.

Within minutes Matlock, now with their tails up pressed again and their kicking game was employed to good effect to place Ilkeston deep into their own 22. Disaster struck as the line out was lost which allowed the visitors to move the ball wide and score comfortably through their pacey backs.

Time was running out and an 8 point gap had been opened.

Only then did Ilkeston show what they were capable of in what turned out to be the last play of the match. Good work by forwards and backs alike saw Greg Taylor go very close to scoring…quick possession was secured and a stretched Matlock defence was breached for the fourth time as Dan Taylor crossed for his second which was again converted by Haigh.

Full time 29 – 30 to the visitors.

Bonus points aside this was a very disappointing performance which fell a long way below the standard set thus far this season and witnesses Ilkeston drop to third place in the table.

Link to Ilkeston Advertiser report.

Link to Derby Telegraph report.

Link to Nottingham Post report.