ELKS SIGN OFF WITH EIGHT TRY DISPLAY

Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Joel Haigh

Ilkeston ended the season in style with an impressive eight try away win at Stewarts & Lloyds in Corby. The victory completed a season which the Elks can count as their most successful as following promotion back to Level Six they have firmly established themselves in this league, finishing a very creditable seventh and playing some inspirational rugby along the way.
Yet again showing numerous changes from previous games the Elks simply had too much power, pace and know how for the home side. Welcoming back Jono Falls, following five months on the injury list and brothers Greg and Lewis Taylor who had both been absent for some two months, the side included debutant Luke Bibby. However, still requiring players to play out of position they still showed a remarkable degree of cohesion to put on a show which was fitting for the bright sunshine and the good number of travelling supporters.
Their intent was clear from the first few minutes when the desire to move the ball earned a scrum on the S&L twenty two. Adam Corcoran picked from the base of the scrum and fed scrum half Joel Haigh. His weaving run took him passed the flat footed defenders and into the corner for the opening try with three minutes on the clock.
From the restart poor reactions to the kick from the Elks allowed S&L to exert pressure up the slope and pin the Elks back in their twenty two. Their efforts were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty on ten minutes to narrow the score to 3-5. With both sides opting to move the ball at pace there were mistakes in abundance as over ambitious passes failed to find their intended target. However, the Elks back row of Corcoran, Steve Quinn and Damon Holmes revelled in the amount of ball spilt and secured the lions’ share of the ball available at the breakdown enabling the speedy Elks’ backs to exploit the space available once more.
Despite this the next try came not from open play but from a set piece when a Paul Shoebridge lineout take was driven forward. As the line approached and the Elks’ forwards licked their lips at claiming a try the smallest player on the pitch, Haigh, took control of the situation at the back of the ensuing ruck and claimed the touchdown. The conversion of his own try took the score on to 3-12 after fifteen minutes. The lead was increased by a further three thirteen minutes later when stand in centre Dan Mahoney found the time and space to claim a sweetly struck drop goal from thirty metres.
The home side put themselves back into the game on thirty two minutes when the Elks failed to deal with a chip in behind the defence and Crooks won the race to the ball to claim a try, converted by Beattie, leaving the score 10-15. As the half time whistle approached the visitors restored the gap with a classic try fashioned from deep inside their own half. Greg Taylor’s searing break found support from Scott Rudkin and Ellis Hallam. Their interpassing brought Mat McGuire into the play and fed Quinn. As the line beckoned the flanker offloaded in the tackle to fullback Dan Taylor who crashed over. Haigh’s conversion left the Elks 10-22 ahead at the break but with some concern as to whether this would be enough with the home side having the advantage of the slope in the second half. However, if they thought that the breeze and slope would offer them hope then they were mistaken as the Elks went on a rampage after restart.
From the kick off Greg Taylor opened his account when a perfect pass from Rudkin sent him steaming out of his own twenty two. Rudkin was on hand again to put in a deft chip from the midfield ruck. Greg Taylor was on hand again to gather the ball, exchange passes with his brother Dan and touched down. With Haig converting the try the score moved on to 10-29 barely a minute into the half. The family affair continued eight minutes later when Dan grabbed his second try. From a solid scrum on half way Rudkin was the catalyst again as he put the fullback into space and his searing pace and sidestep enabled him to score under the posts. Haigh again obliged with the conversion and score stretched further to 10-36.
The Elks now sensed further blood and direct from the restart the ball was secured and the dazzling speed of hands sent winger Jono Falls away up the hill where he outpaced the defence and touched down wide out. With the conversion missed the score moved on to 10-41. Sensing that the job was virtually complete Quinn departed the field with a niggling injury to be replaced by Luke Bibby adding to the number of players from the Development side that have made their league debut this season. Having made his contribution Dan Taylor also left the field some eight minutes later to be replaced by the youngest of the band of brothers Lewis. The switch necessitated some changes in the Elks’ back division with Rudkin moving to centre and Greg Taylor relocating to fullback. As the visitors readjusted the home side showed their fighting spirit when Crooks’ try, converted by Beattie made it 17-41 twenty eight minutes into the half
With the scrum in dominant mood where McGuire, Marc Moore and Jason Falls gave their opposite numbers a torrid afternoon and the lineout providing a regular supply of usable ball through Simon Bennett and his second row partner Shoebridge the home side were starved of possession and forced into desperate defence. A series of drives from the forwards, with Bennett and Moore prominent, followed by swift hands from Hallam and Mahoney fashioned the next score for Jono Falls after a superb break from Lewis Taylor split the home defence. His finely judged chip over the defence set up a race between Crooks and Jono Falls with the Elks’ winger winning the race and touching down in the corner. Haigh missed the conversion but the Elks had now moved into a 17-46 lead.
The Elks made their final change seven minutes later when Greg Taylor aggravated his recent ankle injury and was replaced by Tom Holland. The prop moved in to take his usual position with McGuire moving to No.8, Corcoran into the centre and Rudkin to fullback. As legs began to wilt in the spring sunshine and concentration levels inevitably dropping S&L claimed their final score of the game benefitting from an erratic piece of refereeing. As the Elks stood bemused as Corcoran was penalised for handling the ball on the floor Dains had the presence of mind to take a quick tap and fall over the line unchallenged for an unconverted try as the clock moved close to added time and the score board moved on to 22-46.
However, the Elks were determined to have the last word and they finished in style, passing the half century, when a Holmes turnover inside his own twenty two started a move where backs and forwards combined to sweep play the length of the field with Mahoney adding to his earlier drop goal by touching down between the posts. Haigh’s conversion, with the last kick of the game, brought his personal tally to twenty points, made the final score 22-53 and earned him the Man of the Match award.
The result capped the most successful season the Elks have ever had at their highest level and they now look forward to next season with anticipation.