ELKS GRIND A WIN ON THE ROAD

Man of the Match – JJ Connolly

The Elks’ solid start to the season continued on Saturday with a well deserved, but hard fought, victory at Dunstablians. Following promotion the move to the RFU Level 6 has seen the Elks return to long distance travel and this 200 mile return trip down the M1 clearly took it’s toll with the visitors taking a long time to settle and only rarely finding their rhythm as they struggled to overcome their spirited opposition.

The victory owed much to their solid scrum and ability to win lineout ball from both their own and opposition throw. The new combination of Gordon Pringle, Jason Falls and Mat McGuire in the front row made life uncomfortable for their opposite numbers and provided a regular supply of usable ball for their speedy back line. Their superiority in this department did not diminish when fit again Marc Moore replaced Pringle twenty minute into the second half with McGuire moving across to loose head.

The Elks’ second row partnership of Adam Stoker and Paul Shoebridge, a native of Dunstable, generally ruled the lineout covering their own throw and disrupting much of Dunstablians’ ball. Bryn Vernon continued the good work when he replaced Stoker during the second half. Despite the comfortable platform the Elks made hard work of capitalising on the ball provided. Promising positions were often squandered by slow ball from ruck and maul, a continuing problem, and poor tactical kicking which invited the home side to counter attack, an invitation they were only too eager to accept.

As in previous weeks the Elks were slow to start and only desperate defence prevented Dunstablians from taking the lead. Poor handling by the home side and sterling work by Stoker, Adam Corcoran and Dan Taylor kept the line intact on two occasions inside the first ten minutes. The Elks were further relieved when Murphy pulled a penalty wide on twelve minutes.

The first show of intent from the Elks came on fifteen minutes when Jono Falls fielded a clearance kick and fed Scott Rudkin infield. He linked with Greg Taylor who burst through midfield, but the ball from the resulting ruck was slow and allowed Dunstablians’ defence to regroup and snuff out the danger. On thirty one minutes the Elks finally came to life to the relief of the large travelling support. From another solid scrum on half way Captain Rich Burne picked from the base and fed Andrew Chapman who moved the ball to Dan Taylor. For once the ruck was quickly won and the ball moved back across the field. Rudkin’s long pass found Jono Falls and his pace took him around the defence to score close to the posts. JJ Connolly’s conversion gave the Elks a seven point lead albeit against the run of play. Dan Taylor suffered a knee injury in the build up to the score and limped off to be replaced by Dan Mahoney.

The remainder of the first half was fairly uneventful with defences on both sides restricting any attempts to create a more open game.

The Elks started the second half in a more purposeful mood. The lead should have increased when Rudkin broke through in midfield but the lack of support meant the chance went begging. The visitors continued to press but Dunstablians’ willingness to counter attack from deep meant that such a slender lead was always in danger.
Greg Taylor threatened next and should have scored after he was put into space by a clever Ben Gatehouse pass. However, he chose to look for support instead of backing his pace and his attempted pass was spilt in the tackle. Determined to put his mark on the game minutes later he was just wide with a drop goal attempt from forty metres.

As the game entered the last quarter the Elks were finally rewarded for their enterprise. Jono Falls, Greg Taylor and Dan Mahoney combined to move the ball from deep inside their own half and earn a scrum close to the home try line. The ball was duly delivered by the pack and Chapman fed Connolly who dummied and darted through a gap to touch down. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 0-12 with twenty minutes left. Bryn Vernon replaced Stoker in the second row and Marc Moore replaced Pringle as the Elks looked to protect their lead.

Dunstablians got on the scoreboard twenty seven minutes into the half when they were gifted a score. Paul Shoebridge won a lineout on halfway and the ball was moved to Connolly. Sensing that Rudkin was marked Connolly attempted to float a pass to miss him and find Gatehouse. Whilst the intention was right the execution was poor as Bowles had read the pass and plucked the ball out of the air to race clear and touch down between the posts. Murphy converted to bring the score to 7-12.

The score gave Dunstablians confidence and they sensed that victory might be theirs as they laid siege to the visitors’ line for the remaining thirteen minutes but to no avail. They were kept at bay by a series of relieving kicks from Connolly and Greg Taylor, sterling lineout work from Vernon and Shoebridge and a solid pack which was called upon to defend a number of five metre scrums. The back row of Burne, Corcoran and Steve Mahoney did more than their fair share of work as they turned ball over and assisted Rudkin Gatehouse to marshal proceedings in midfield.

When the final whistle went the Elks were quick to accept that they had not performed to expectation but satisfied that an away win is always a bonus and that, on the balance of play, they had earned the victory.