ELKS RETURN EMPTY HANDED FROM M1 TRIP

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Steve Quinn

For the second week running the Elks made the long journey down the M1 but, unlike the previous trip to Wellingborough where they secured a victory, this time they returned empty handed from Leighton Buzzard.

For most of the game it looked as though the visitors had done just enough to take the spoils but with the clock entering added time the home side were rewarded for their enterprise when they struck from deep to score a try in the corner with the conversion giving them the single point victory. Indeed, the early exchanges should have warned the Elks of the potential of the home side’s young backs with pace in all positions and desire to move the ball from all areas of the field. The Elks’ defence was called upon to repulse a flurry of attacks and they could have gone behind on eleven minutes when a simple penalty chance was missed.

As the pressure continued, telling interventions from Steve Quinn, Adam Corcoran and Greg Taylor were needed to keep the line intact. The lineout delivery of Adam Stoker and Bryn Vernon made the most of the accurate throwing of hooker Marc Moore to provide some respite but the home side were not to be denied and they duly took the lead after twenty minutes with a penalty from thirty metres.

The Elks should have drawn level shortly after the restart but Andy Thompson’s penalty attempt fell short. The chance stirred the visitors and they slowly got to grips with their hosts. The scrum started to produce usable ball as the front row of Mat McGuire, Moore and Jason Falls got on top of their opposite numbers. A second penalty miss on twenty six minutes did not dampen the spirits and a counter attack involving Scott Rudkin, Joel Haigh and Greg Taylor from the twenty two restart earned the Elks a penalty which was drilled into the corner for a lineout. Vernon’s clean take was driven over and Quinn emerged from the pile of bodies clutching the ball and claiming the score. The missed conversion left the Elks with a slender lead of 3-5.

As the Elks continued to press a strike against the head by Moore gave Thompson the chance of a snap drop goal attempt but the ball drifted wide. From the twenty two drop out Rory Maddocks’ pass put Dan Mahoney on the charge to set up a ruck on the far right. The ball was secured and swiftly transferred through Rudkin and Alan Cook to McGuire. Sensing that he would not make the line the prop moved the ball on to Lewis Taylor who dived over in the corner for his first try for the club. Haigh took over the kicking duties and duly slotted the conversion to make it 3-12 at the interval.

The Elks started the second half as they had ended the first, moving the ball from inside their own twenty two. Deft hands from Haigh, Thompson and Cook found Mahoney whose chip earned a lineout close to the Leighton Buzzard line. A knock on gave the defenders a scrum put in but a second strike against the head by Moore regained the ball which was moved infield. Greg Taylor’s break promised a further score but the ball went to ground and the chance missed.
Realising that they needed to respond the home side went into frantic mode, looking to keep the ball alive and move it from all areas of the park. Breaking out of their own half they earned a penalty close to the Elks’ posts. The incident also saw Rudkin sent to the sin-bin reducing the visitors to fourteen men and the penalty was converted to move the score on to 6-12.

Despite the deficit in numbers the Elks weathered the storm over the next ten minutes and could have increased their lead with a series of penalties inside the home twenty two. Searching for the third try kicks at goal were spurned and scrums or lineouts opted for instead but determined defence prevented a score despite the pressure. It was a period that would come back to haunt the Elks as they returned empty handed from a period of domination.

As Rudkin returned he was joined by Tom Holland, Paul Shoebridge and Sam Patel from the bench who replaced Moore, Maddocks and Mahoney. With the clock entering the final few minutes the Elks were hit by a searing break from deep which ended with a try for the home side as the winger dived into the far corner. The conversion from wide out gave the home side a 13-12 lead. Three further minutes of added time were left to play with the Elks desperately seeking a winning score but denied by their hosts who, at the final whistle, celebrated what, for much of the game, seemed an unlikely victory.

Match Report – Rochelle O’Dwyer