ELKS DOWNED BY SYSTON

Man of the Match – Paul Shoebridge

Following last weeks resounding home win against Stewart & Lloyds the Elks knew that this weeks trip to Syston would be a different test altogether. Syston have lived comfortably in the top half of the table at Level 6 for some years and would give the Elks an early yardstick of the step up in performance they must produce if they are to survive at this level.

The lovely sunny late summer day produced a good crowd to witness the clash between two sides that had both won their opening matches. The first half hour gave the Elks a rude awakening as the home side sped into a twenty four lead. Capitalising on uncharacteristic errors from the Elks and making the most of their rolling maul, which as a result of the law reversal to prevent dropping of the maul, saw them score three tries via its use in the first twenty minutes. On the half hour they produced their first flowing backs move which saw them move the ball wide and outpace the Elks defence and move the score on to 24-0.

The Elks were looking settled in some areas, notably the scrum which looked solid with the usual front row of Mat McGuire, Jason Falls and Craig Charlton. However, scrum half Andrew Chapman was constantly pressurised by his opposite number in a manner he normally displays himself. The main lineout jumpers, Paul Shoebridge and Bryn Vernon, were doing well on the opposition ball but with McGuire struggling to find the target they suffered on their own ball. The back row of Steve Quinn, Adam Corcoran and skipper Rich Burne were in the thick of the battle to stem the early tide but despite their efforts the Elks managed to lose possession with several turnovers. Indeed, Quinn, who had been rattling into the opposition from the start, was forced off after thirty minutes following a knock to the head and he was replaced by Steve Mahoney. The pack handed the Elks their first scoring opportunity directly after the replacement had been made shunting the home side back and forcing them to handle the ball in the scrum. However, Jono Falls missed the attempt leaving the Elks scoreless. Almost immediately the scrum produced another piece of possession and the combination of No.8 Burne and centre Dan Taylor made good ground but the move broke down when the ball was lost in contact. The backs looked as though they could produce some progress with good breaks from Greg Taylor, brother Dan and Ben Gatehouse but too often were let down with handling errors or poor kicking.

Not to be denied the Elks switched the next phase of play with a clever cross field kick from the unlikely source of Corcoran finding winger Greg Taylor wide on the left. Gathering the ball at pace he ghosted past the defence before cleverly flipping a pass over the head of a defender to where his brother Dan was in support. With all the visiting supporters baying for the expected try the centre was hauled down by the last defender before he had caught the ball. Having been denied two earlier penalties for high tackles the Elks were left to ponder whether a simple penalty was to be awarded or higher sanction applied. Lecturing the perpetrator of the offence referee Mr Tatam showed him the yellow card before awarding the Elks the correct penalty try which Jono Falls converted to open the Elks’ account with the score 24-7 after thirty four minutes.

However, the Elks slipped back almost immediately when an attempted clearance kick by fly half JJ Connolly, from within his own twenty two, failed to find touch. Moving the ball quickly across the whole pitch Syston produced the move of the game which resulted in a try wide on the left leaving the score 29-7 at the break.

The half time pep-talk from coaches Scott Rudkin and Lee Jones saw the Elks produce a totally different performance in the second half with ten points being scored by both sides. The Elks were the first to score on forty nine minutes when a high tackle on Jono Falls saw the fullback convert the penalty to bring the score to 29-10. Once again the Elks presented the home side with a further opportunity to extend their lead when Burne was penalised for not releasing on the ground but to the Elks’ relief the penalty was missed from directly in front of the posts.

After fifty three minutes the Elks made the last of their changes when Jason Falls was replaced with Simon Bennett with the youngster moving onto the blindside with Steve Mahoney going into the front row as hooker. Syston continued to use the rolling maul as their main weapon but the Elks defence of the tactic was much improved over that in the first half.

Promising to develop another score from a solid scrum the Elks again let the home side peg them back when a midfield knock-on and two missed tackles allowed Syston to move the score on to 34-10. The Elks then started to apply pressure to the home side by giving them a dose of their own medicine by using the rolling maul but were held up over the line on sixty two minutes. They were eventually successful after sixty eight minutes when a nice switch move between Jono Falls and the Taylor brothers allowed flanker Corcoran to smash over. The younger Falls converted the try leaving the Elks trailing 34-17.

Sensing that they could further reduce the deficit the Elks pressed again straight from the restart. Positioned in the Syston twenty two they again turned the ball over and were then penalised for back chatting. From the ensuing lineout the home side moved the ball into midfield before switching back to the left wing where the Elks’ defence was outpaced for the ball to be touched down to register the final score of 39-17.

The Elks can take heart from the second half performance where they competed with Syston in all respects. If they reproduce that level of skill and commitment from the start, instead of when they are in excess of twenty points down, they will be able to live with any team in the league.

Next week sees the Elks at the Stute playing Derby k.o. 15:00