Narrow Defeat Despite Great Effort.

The Elks kicked off with the slope in their favour and made much the brighter start; at the first scrum the Elks pack had the home scrum in disarray as they were pushed off their own ball. Joel Haigh quickly picked up the ball and made a great break feeding Greg Taylor who was held up just short of the line. ON`s managed to clear their lines but the Elks launched another attack which was halted on the 22 when we were penalised for going off our feet at the breakdown.

ON`s kicked for touch, won the line out and had their first spell in the Elks 22, this attack led to Ilkeston being caught offside, but the ensuing kick for goal went wide on 11 minutes. ON`s came again at the Elks but a great tackle by Dan Taylor in midfield forced a turnover and penalty to the Elks. This was kicked to touch and following the clean line out catch by Steven Fowkes another attack was launched - ON`s were penalised for offside and the Elks turned down a kick for goal and opted for the kick to touch. The line out was well caught and driven and the maul appeared to be illegally collapsed but nothing was given.

The Elks continued to exert pressure on ON`s and this finally told following good breaks by Fowkes and Dan Taylor. It was Steve Quinn who burst through the defence and fed Greg Taylor to score near the posts on 19 minutes, this was converted by Jonathan Falls to give Elks a 7-0 lead. Unfortunately this was to be Greg Taylor’s last involvement in the game as he was forced off with a hamstring injury. Alex `Rico` Richards came on to replace G. Taylor.

ON`s came straight back at the Elks and despite having had little territory in the first 20 minutes worked the ball well in midfield to create an opening which resulted in a try under the posts on 22 minutes, levelling the scores at 7-7. ON`s knocked on at the kick off but the scrum ended up being awarded to the home team. Again the Elks pushed ON`s back from the scrum and gained a penalty, which was kicked to the corner and the line out won clean by Fowkes and driven to the line. The maul was halted by ON players who were clearly offside but again nothing was given.

Elks continued on the attack with Fowkes and Ryan Mills to the fore and ON`s were again penalised for offside. Continued Elks pressure looked like being rewarded but following a move to the right the final pass was dropped.

ON`s managed to clear their lines and recycled the ball well, a clever kick to the left was caught by ON`s and fed to the winger who sprinted in to score on 37 minutes, the conversion missed to make it 12-7. This seemed harsh on the Elks after all their pressure but ON`s were more clinical when chances arose.

Elks immediately won the ball back from the kick off and ON`s were penalised for a ruck infringement. The Elks attacked again but knocked on to give a scrum to ON`s. Again the Elks pack pushed ON`s off their ball with Mills in particular giving his opposite man a torrid time. Haigh pounced on the chance and went on a great run into the 22 where he was stopped just short of the line but Jake Lamb was on hand to take the pass and score on the stroke of Half Time, the conversion was missed to leave it at 12-12.

ON`s were penalised at the start of the second half for offside, the ball was kicked to touch and from the line out a kick ahead was well returned by ON`s, recycling well and driving down the middle with a well organised maul. Elks defended well and managed to turn the ball over, however shortly after the Elks knocked on to give ON`s the initiative. Play was then concentrated around half way as both teams looked to find space. From a kick ahead by Elks, ON`s returned the ball well and forced the Elks into conceding a kickable penalty. This was successfully kicked on 49 minutes to make it 15-12. Josh Meakin came on for Ben Wells and Dan Rollins on for Jake Smithurst.

ON`s then had their best spell of the match scoring tries on 53 & 56 minutes although the Elks will not be happy with some of the first up tackles, one conversion was successful making it 27-12 to ON`s. Ben Wells returned to replace Mills. Elks tried to play their way back into the game but basic mistakes halted any real progress. This was the case when Dan Taylor made a superb break from his own 22 only to see the final pass dropped.

Good work again by D Taylor, Adam Corcoran and Alex Ayres put Falls into space but good defence held him up. On 70 minutes Mills came on for Meakin and Smithurst on for Rollins. Fowkes collected a kick ahead well and ran back only to see the recycled ball knocked on. Elks won the scrum only to knock on again. ON`s cleared and from the line out Fowkes caught the ball and Haigh fed the back line with D. Taylor again making a great break, good support from Mills enabled him to take the pass and crash over on 73minutes, this was unconverted to make it 27-17

Just as quick as Elks had got back into the game ON`s took it away from them as following a series of good pick and drives the ball was worked left to score in the corner on 76 minutes, this was unconverted but left the Elks a mountain to climb at 32-17 behind.

Ilkeston attacked from the kick off and recycled well but Lamb was held up, Quinn went off injured to be replaced by Rollins on 78 minutes. Elks next scrum was cleanly won and the ball ran by Haigh who dummied the advancing defence to score on 79 minutes and gain the 4 try bonus point, this was converted to make it 32-24. Elks tried in vain to gain the losing bonus point but following a knock on ON`s kicked into touch to end the game.

Another game where the Elks will feel they could have won but ON`s were more clinical when it came to taking chances - Man of the Match is Dan Taylor.

Link to Ilkeston Advertiser report.

Link to Derby Telegraph report.

Link to Nottingham Post report.

No game next week but the Elks face table topping Peterborough Lions at the Stute on Nov 17th. 2.15 pm kick off.