ELKS TURN IT ON FOR LADIES DAY

Man of the Match – Rich Burne

The gods combined to make it a memorable day at the Stute on a fine mid autumn afternoon. This was the Club’s first Ladies Day and did they grace the premises. Stiletto heels, dresses from the catwalk and hats that would not be out of place at Ascot combined with the glorious weather and events on the pitch to help the champagne to flow and send everyone home happy.

Two sides wishing to play open rugby and conditions allowing them to do so provided a feast of tries. A final score of 52-24 to the Elks kept the crowd entertained to the end.

A scrappy opening period, filled with technical errors and poor decision making, was little indication of the things to come. However, turnover ball produced by man of the match Rich Burne on seven minutes gave the Elks their first chance when the visitors were penalised at the ensuing ruck. JJ Connolly opened his account with the penalty. Burne was again involved four minutes later when he picked from the base of a scrum on the halfway line and fed Alan Cook who linked with Mat McGuire. The ruck was quickly won and quick hands from Connolly and Greg Taylor set Dan Mahoney free on the left to score in the corner. Connolly converted from wide out to give the Elks a ten point lead.

As the home side found their rhythm the game began to flow and when Buzzard did have possession they also showed their willingness to move the ball and counter attack. However, the Elks’ ability to deny the opposition space and demonstrate the art of offensive defence earned the next score as centre Ben Gatehouse’s destructive tackle and stripping of the ball gave Connolly another penalty opportunity which he duly converted to give them a 13-0 lead.

Not to be seen capitulating Buzzard struck back after twenty five minutes when a strike against the head followed by some lazy defending enabled the winger to score a converted try which pulled the score back to 13-7. Normal service was resumed soon after when an Adam Stoker lineout take turned into a driving maul. The melee was well controlled by the Elks’ pack and they moved the ball infield where Taylor came steaming through to take the short ball and touch down. Connolly again added the points to increase the lead to 20-7.

As the visitors upped their game the Elks were required to defend, a task assisted by Connolly’s ability to put the game into opposition territory with a succession of booming clearance kicks. One such rocket set up a lineout and another front take by Stoker enabled the Elks to establish another maul which they trundled forward. When the ball was released Andrew Chapman’s reverse pass found the rampaging Steve Quinn who bumped and barged his way over wit Connolly again converting to extend the lead to 27-7. The critical score came just before halftime when Connolly slotted another penalty, following skilful play from Adam Corcoran, Bryn Vernon and Craig Charlton to leave the scoreboard at 30-7 after the first half.

With the slope in their favour the visitors fought their way back into the game following the break with the half time refreshments seeming to have a soporific effect on the Elks. Poor defending allowed Buzzard to glean a converted try before Connolly once again restored the cushion with a penalty after fifteen minutes of the half to make the score 33-14.

As the action continued the Elks rang the changes as Gordon replaced Charlton with Steve Mahoney coming on for Vernon and Paul Shoebridge for Corcoran. While adjusting to the changes the home side’s concentration lapsed and the visitors took advantage from a tap penalty to score an unconverted try from close range.

The Elk’s response was instant. A Shoebridge line out take eventually provided Cook with he ball and his dance through the visitor’s midfield set up a maul which worked its way over the line. When referee Claire Hodnett separated the bodies McGuire emerged with a broad smile and a try to his name which Connolly again converted. Now in full flow the home side began to show their full repertoire and a clever box kick from Chapman set Connolly on a chase against the cover defence. He duly out paced them and converted his own try to give the Elks a 47-19 lead.

The ability of Burne and Chapman to deal with increasingly poor scrimmage ball gave the Elk’s their final score. With the scrum wheeling they combined to give Connolly usable ball. It was moved to Gatehouse whose deft hands bamboozled the defence and gave Taylor a gap which he eagerly accepted to scamper through and score. Connolly’s conversion attempt was easily the worst of the afternoon but he had otherwise fully contributed to the Elks’ total of 52 points.

Not to be caught capitulating Buzzard again showed their resolve as they set their backs free and entered the Elks’ twenty two to earn a penalty. Not for the first time they spurned the chance of a penalty goal and took a quick tap to earn a well deserved try to leave the score at 52-24.

A most entertaining game, enjoyed by a champagne fuelled crowd, saw the Elks secure their fifth victory from the opening six games. Club Steward, Lana Meakin, said ‘What a fantastic experience to see so many people in hats and posh frocks and having so much fun. It’s given the place a real buzz’.

The game today was top class entertainment but I do wonder about one of our sponsors who got hold of the stick by completely the wrong end. He though Ladies Day was some sort of fancy dress affair and turned up dressed as a woman – still I suppose it is the weekend.