ELKS TRIUMPH IN GALE

Man of the Match – JJ Connolly

On a day when gale force winds and occasional driving rain made handling and kicking extremely difficult the Elks managed the conditions better than the visitors and continued their good run another hard won victory.
Their line up was unrecognisable from previous weeks as the injury list took it’s toll. While victories have been secured at the start of the season they have been at a cost. Missing Craig Charlton, Adam Corcoran, Dan Taylor, Jono Falls, Sam Patel and Scott Rudkin the Elks’ squad still proved robust enough to send the visitors home pointless. A bright note alongside the victory was that Alan Cook and Ben Newton both returned from injury and came through their first start unscathed.

There were some notable performances, particularly from Ben Gatehouse who in the first twenty minutes tore into the opposition as if he was determined to win the game single handed and continued in this vein throughout to have his best game since joining the Elks in the close season. Likewise, Gordon Pringle continues to belie his years as he demolished his opposite prop despite conceding eleven stones. His effort was so effective that Johnson was withdrawn at half time.

The terrible conditions dictated that the game would not be a flowing affair, rather it would depend on muscle and grunt which the Elks provided in abundance. The forwards established a solid platform with Adam Stoker, Paul Shoebridge, Mat McGuire and Rich Burne constantly available to drive the ball forward and ensure that the game was played in Wellingborough’s territory. The ability to make use of the ball produced and generally control the game earned JJ Connolly the Man of the Match award for the second week running. His kicking and distribution defied the conditions.

Playing against the elements the visitors started crisply and had the better of the early exchanges and could have profited but for the intervention of Gatehouse and his ability to make telling tackles and steal ball in contact. Likewise, Steve Mahoney and Bryn Vernon ensured that the tackle area was fiercely contested denying Wellingborough time, space and quick ball.

After twelve minutes the Elks finally escaped their own half when Burne picked from the base of a scrum, stormed down the slope into the visitor’s twenty two and earned a penalty which Connolly stoked over from thirty metres. From the restart the visitors put more pressure on the Elks and camped inside their twenty two. As they looked likely to make the most of their enterprise rescue was provided when Jason Falls took a ball against the head at a five metre scrum and Connolly produced a booming clearance kick. Fullback Shipman was captured by the chasing Burne and Newton and was forced to concede a penalty which Connolly duly converted to take the score to
6-0 with twenty minutes played.

With the half ticking away and the prospect of playing into the elements in the second half a six point lead did not appear to be enough of a cushion. The task appeared even more demanding when scrumhalf Andrew Chapman was sent to the sin bin for illegal rucking reducing the Elks to fourteen men. However, the incident only served to strengthen the Elks’ resolve and the pack took the game by the scruff of the neck. Stoker stole a lineout on the opposition throw and the forwards drove the ball on. A series of pick and drives created a quick ruck and Connolly, standing in at scrumhalf, received the ball and shimmied through to score. He converted his own try to take the lead to 13-0.

From the restart Cook and Dan Mahoney carried the ball forward after a Shoebridge break and earned a scrum close to Wellingborough’s line. A solid shove provided the ball for Cook and his perfectly timed pass fed Greg Taylor who crashed through the defence to score. Connolly’s conversion made it 20-0 to the Elks at the break.

The second half saw the Elks start strongly but a handling mistake and ensuing offside gave Vickers a long shot which, with the wind behind him, he converted to get Wellingborough on the scoreboard. Ten minutes into the half Pringle made way for Marc Moore and Steve Quinn replaced Steve Mahoney. Quinn was quickly into the action with a powerful burst from the back of a lineout and support from Stoker and Cook almost stretched the lead.

As Wellingborough used the wind to take the game to the Elks it brought the home backline more into play. Taylor looked for every opportunity to run and found willing allies in Dan Mahoney and Newton with the back row of Vernon, Quinn and Burne always on hand in support. The high risk strategy came undone twenty one minutes into the half when the Elks caught close to their own line and forced to concede a penalty. Poor concentration saw a tap penalty badly defended and Franklin power over from close range to make it 20-8.

The Elks could have been forgiven for looking to play out the clock and defend their lead. That, however, is not in the nature of the side and they instead they rung the changes with Simon Bennett coming on for Steve Mahoney and went in search of a further score which would make the game safe. Just reward for their adventurous approach duly arrived with five minutes remaining. Dan Mahoney fielded a deep clearance kick and linked with Taylor who moved the ball onto Quinn. Recycling the ball through Cook, McGuire and Gatehouse before Dan Mahoney joined in again on the outside. His inside pass to Taylor gave the fullback the chance to step off his right foot and sail past the remaining defenders. His try, converted by Connolly, brought the scoring to a close and left the Elks victorious at 27-8.

Not the prettiest of displays but with the weather holding the upper hand on the course of the game the Elks’ supporters can only be please to see their side having won four from five after last season’s promotion.