The Elks Bag Another Double

Fears of a waterlogged pitch at the Stute following several heavy downpours during the week were realised and the game was moved to the 2nd XV pitch, which gave an unusual feel to the 1st XV fixture.

The Elks got the game underway and it wasn’t long before Joel Haigh got the scoreboard moving with a pick up from the base of the scrum just outside the Peterborough 22m where the defence bought his dummy, allowing him to crash over for the first unconverted try of the afternoon , 5-0.

Jack Partington was next up when a Peterborough kick was returned with interest by Isaac Taylor who was stopped short and popped off to Jack for a second converted try – 12-0.

Shortly afterwards Tom Pottinger ghosted over in the corner after the ball was spun first right then left from a midfield scrum, with some great handling across the back line, unconverted to make it 17-0.

Pottinger crossed again with almost a carbon copy of his previous try as the ball was spun far right and then back left for his second try of the game and Haigh duly added the extras to bring the score line up to 24-0. This remained the score through to half time.

Peterborough restarted the second half but ill discipline at the breakdown gave them a kick to our 22m line. A period of ill discipline by the elks gave Peterborough a rare opportunity at pressuring the Elks line with a series of kicks to the corner, but the Elks defence held firm, eventually clearing with a kick.

The next score came when the Elks fielded a deep Peterborough clearance kick which was quickly spun left to Pottinger who looked like he might get his hat trick but was pushed into touch in the Peterborough 22m. Nick grey caused the Peterborough lineout problems all afternoon and this one was to be no different as he stole their put in, giving the now salivating back line an opportunity to spin the ball wide right again allowing Isaac Taylor to go over in the corner, unconverted to make it 29-0.

Isaac went over again shortly afterwards from a right hand scrum on the Peterborough 22m, where the ball was spun left, missing both centres and bringing in Isaac off his own wing to score in left hand corner, again denying Pottinger his hat trick. Haigh converted to make it 41-0.

Grey fielded the restart where the ball was spun wide again but dropped in front of the Elks posts. The resulting Peterborough scrum was spun wide left where they finally crossed the Elks line with their only score of the afternoon to make it 41-5.

Elks restarted play with a deep kick which was cleared by Peterborough but returned well allowing Ryan Mills to go on one of his trademark bullocking runs up the middle. Injury stopped play for a few minutes and when it eventually restarted, Peterborough conceded a penalty allowing the Elks to kick to the corner and following a great take by Kartar at 2 in the line, the pack drove over allowing Matthew Watkins to ground the ball which Haigh converted to make it 48-5.

Following the restart, the Elks stole another Peterborough lineout at 2 and punched it up the middle allowing a probing kick by Alex Ayres to put his side deep into the Peterborough half. From a scrum shortly afterwards, the Elks punched it up in the centres again and span the ball left to send full back Jacob Heath over in the corner, unconverted to make it 53-5.

The Elks then pressured again from the restart and got their due reward for all the sustained pressure when Greg Taylor went over under sticksfor the final score of the afternoon, but the conversion was missed, leaving the score 58-5.

As you would expect with the score line, there were many nominations for this week’s Man of the Match award, but for his all round display of quality rugby including dominating the lineout, Nick Grey takes the spoils.

Next week we travel away to face Northamptonshire side Bugbrooke.