Elks Grind Out Another Bonus Point Win

Newark kicked off with the advantage of the slope and after Hugh Smith made an early break the Elks were penalised for holding on and Newark kicked to touch, winning the line out and applying pressure in the Elks 22.

The Elks managed to clear and came back strong with Smith, Ben Wells & Dan Taylor linking well, Newark were penalised at the ruck and Elks kicked to touch. The line out was won but a forward pass gave back possession to Newark who cleared long into the Elks 22.

Greg Taylor was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced with Jack Townsend on 20 minutes. Smith went to Full Back and Townsend on the wing.

Elks then had their best attack of the half with the ball first moved wide right then back across to the left but the final pass was knocked on. Newark drove the ensuing scrum well and forced the Elks to concede a penalty, they opted for the kick to touch but Elks got the ball back after the throw was deemed not straight.

Elks suffered further injury woes when Steve Quinn was forced off also with a hamstring injury after 30 minutes; he was replaced by Josh Meakin. Bad luck struck again quickly when Jake Lamb had to leave the field with an ankle injury and Jack Wilkinson came on. Several players were now out of position with the back row looking more like the front row!

Elks battled well despite the disruption and Smith made a good break and fed Tom Pottinger who timed his run well and headed for the line only to be bundled into touch a few yards short of the line. Elks stole the Newark line out through Wilkinson and following a midfield break by Alex Ayres the ball ended up in Dan Taylor’s hands and he crashed over on 36 minutes, converted by Joel Haigh to make it 7-0

Defences were then tested on both sides but no further scores were registered before half time making it 7-0 at the break.

Elks had the slope advantage in the second half and were soon on the attack with Dean Chapman. Haigh chipped ahead and caught his own kick, beat the defender and fed Wells who was on hand to take the ball and crash over from the 22 (ok 3 metres!). This was converted by Haigh to make it 14-0 after 41 minutes, the perfect start for the Elks.

More pressure then came from the Elks with Smith showing some great lines of running who was held up short and the Elks had a 5 metre scrum. The ball was driven towards the line but the chance was gone following a knock on at the base of the scrum.

Newark cleared from the scrum but the Elks were soon back on the attack with first Matt McGuire and Ayres and then Shoebridge and Meakin. The ball was recycled quickly and fed to Dan Taylor who threw a lovely miss pass to Ayres to enable him to score on 61 minutes, conversion missed making it 19-0

Newark refused to lie down and came back strong. The Elks were penalised and Newark kicked to touch and won the line out. The maul was driven well towards the line but held up short and Newark quickly went blind and found space on the left to score on 65 minutes. 19-5

Newark grew in confidence from this score and came back well again. They kicked ahead into Elks territory but the line out was cleanly taken by Wilkinson who performed well all half at the line out.

Some poor kicking by Elks gave easy ball to Newark and they capitalised on one such kick after 70 minutes and scored again, this was converted to make it 19-12 and made for a nervy final 10 minutes.

Elks responded well and were soon camped in the Newark 22, another good line out take from Wilkinson was moved to midfield and Ayres ran strong at the Newark midfield. The ball was recycled well and Newark were caught off side. Elks turned down the kick for goal and choose to scrimmage. The scrum was driven towards the line and when Ayres received the ball he went on a mazy run beating several defenders before feeding Pottinger to sprint clear and score in the left corner on 76 minutes, unconverted to make it 24-12

Elks kept the pressure on for the final few minutes and following a Newark penalty kicked to touch and drove the line out. Haigh knew time was up and kicked the ball dead to bring the full time whistle.

Some great performances from the lads especially the youngsters who came on, but for some great ball carrying and outstanding defence the Man of the Match went to Alex Ayres.

This was a good battling performance from the team to get the bonus point win considering players missing and the injuries in the first half.

Hopefully all the guys will be patched up for next week as the team enter what will probably be the most important month in many years, playing nearly all the top sides and also the NLD semi final at Paviors.

Keep up the great work!

Nick Pettitt
President

Link to Ilkeston Advertiser report.

Link to Derby Telegraph report.

Link to Nottingham Post report.