Recent results against Paviors had gone the way of the Elks and today was to be no exception. Lewis Taylor failed to shake off his hamstring injury from last week and was replaced by Dan Mahoney.

Paviors kicked off and quickly won the ball back only to be turned over at the breakdown, where they were penalised and the Elks kicked for touch. The line out was cleanly won by Stephen Fowkes and play moved quickly left where Paviors were again penalised at the breakdown and again the Elks opted to kick to touch. This decision was rewarded when again Fowkes took clean ball and the maul was driven over with Adam Corcoran getting the score. It was superbly converted by Joel Haigh to give the Elks a 7 point lead after 5 minutes.

From the restart Paviors again won the ball back and the Elks were caught offside at the breakdown. Paviors opted to kick for goal and their kicker was successful from 40 metres making it 3-7 after 7 minutes.

The Elks started to concede too many penalties at the breakdown and on 11 minutes Paviors were successful with another kick for goal to close the score at 6-7.

From the kick off the Elks knocked on and allowed easy possession to the home side, however a poor kick gave the Elks chance to counter attack, but at the breakdown the Elks were penalised again as they seemed to be struggling with the referees interpretation at the rucks.

Paviors again worked their way into the Elks half and attacked in midfield, where they were met be some good defending by Alex Ayres. Paviors re-cycled and attempted a drop goal on 17 minutes which went wide. There then followed some scrappy play by both sides as the ball became harder to handle in the driving rain.

Elks then won a scrum against the head and worked the ball right, Greg Taylor made a great run and fed the ball inside to brother Dan to score on 23 minutes, again converted by Haigh to make it 6-14

The kick off was knocked on by Paviors and the Elks were quickly on the attack with Haigh kicking intelligently into the Paviors 22 where the Elks won clean ball through Fowkes at the following line out but were penalised for crossing in the backs. Paviors kicked to touch and won the ball but soon after knocked on. Play was held up for an injury to the Paviors No8 who after treatment was unable to carry on and was replaced on 28 minutes.

Elks then launched another attack with good work from D Taylor and Fowkes but the move ended with a knock on. There then followed a game of kicking tennis as both teams tried to gain territory in the worsening conditions.

Paviors knocked on at half way and from the Elks scrum the ball was moved right to Greg Taylor, who then beat 3 defenders and forced his way over for a great individual try on 38 minutes. This was unconverted and made the score 6-19 as half time approached.

Elks kicked off the second half as the rain got heavier and the temperature dropped noticeably making it increasingly difficult to handle the ball. Following several knock ons by both sides the Elks managed to secure some decent ball and following another line out win by Fowkes, Jake Lamb put a lovely kick in which Paviors failed to ground and Dan Taylor pounced to score, this was well converted by Haigh to make it 6-26 on 47 minutes.

The kick off was well caught and returned by Corcoran and following some good recycled ball Elks attacked midfield but were halted by a high tackle which resulted in an Elks penalty.

Jake Smithhurst was replaced by Tom Pottinger on 50 minutes, the Elks re-organised as Steve Quinn went to lock and Pottinger went on the flank.

Paviors then had their best spell of the game and only a great tap tackle by D Taylor prevented a likely score. Paviors took confidence from this and their forwards had a series of good drives and the Elks gave away several penalties trying to defend and eventually after Pottinger dragged down a maul he was yellow carded on 57 minutes. Paviors kicked to touch and from the line out drove to the line, Elks defended well but were still conceding penalties close to the line, Matt Watkins was next to infringe and the referee lost patience and produced a further yellow card on 62 minutes. Paviors continued to attack and from a scrum on the left worked their way over to score on 63 minutes but this was unconverted to make it 11-26.

From the kick off Paviors knocked on and Fowkes led another attack deep into the Paviors half. Paviors were caught offside and Haigh kicked an easy penalty on 67 minutes to make it 11-29. Both sides were struggling to complete phases of play as the conditions got worse and the ball got dropped and knocked on.

The next attack saw the Elks win the ball at a line out on half way through Fowkes and drive the maul a good 20 metres before it was dragged down illegally and the Paviors player yellow carded. The kick to touch was again well caught by Fowkes and driven into the Paviors 22 where they were again penalised and the Elks kicked to touch. The impressive Fowkes took another clean catch and the maul was driven towards the line. Paviors defended well and held up the maul so Haigh passed to Lamb who dummied the rush defence and ran through to score on 80 minutes, converted by Haigh to make it 11-36 at the whistle.

A great effort by the lads and some good rugby played despite the conditions, Greg Taylor played very well but for an imperious display in the line out and great loose play Stephen Fowkes was Man of the Match.

Link to Derby Telegraph report.

Link to Nottingham Post report.

Next game Derby at Home NLD Cup. 2.00 KO