Elks win big in local derby

April showers greeted the teams as Elks began the half with the slope advantage, the kick off was cleanly caught and great improvement in this area showed all game. Adam Corcoran ran hard from the kick off and offloaded to Reuben Elley who broke through the defence, the ball was recycled and Jake Lamb fed Corcoran who crashed over for the first try on 3 mins, conversion missed 5-0.

Matlock were quick to reply as on their first visit to the Elks 22 they caught and drove a line out and released the ball left, they recycled quickly and created an overlap to score on the left, conversion added to make it 5-7 after 7mins.

Elks were soon back in the Matlock 22 and exerting huge pressure with strong runs from Elley and Alex Ayres, Matlock were caught off side and kicked to the corner, Nick Gray took the first of many clean catches and the ball was moved right, Matlock were caught off side and Lamb added the penalty to regain the lead at 8-7 after 12 mins.

Corcoran took another restart and drove forward, Elks kicked deep and forced Matlock to use their forwards to try and gain ground uphill. Matlock were again caught off side and Elks kicked for touch, Gray again took clean ball and the pack drove forwards, Matlock were off side again and Lamb slotted the penalty to make it 11-7 after 22 mins.

Elks launched another attack from a clean catch by Gray and Elley made good ground through the middle, Matlock were caught off side again and this time the referee ran out of patience and yellow carded the Matlock player on 29 mins, although it had been coming for so many off sides.

Elks kicked to touch and Gray took another clean ball, the ball was moved right and Isaac Taylor finished off strongly to make it 16-7 after 31mins, conversion missed.

Elks were soon back on the attack with Elley and Gray linking well, the ball was move left and spilt but Matlock were again caught off side, Elks kicked to the corner and Gray took another catch, the forwards rumbled towards the line and Chris Tipton peeled off to score after 38mins, converted by Lamb to stretch the lead to 23-7.

Tipton was replaced by Jake Smithurst for a blood injury as half time came with the Elks leading 23-7.

Matlock now had the slope but it was the Elks who had the first scoring opportunity from a line out, Gray took another ball and the backs were released, the ball was recycled and Lamb spotted space on the blind side, he fed Gray who off loaded well to Tom Pottinger who charged forward beating two defenders to score in the right hand corner, conversion missed making it 28-7 after 46mins.

Matlock launched an attack but Corcoran turned the ball over and Elks cleared to half way, several penalties followed from both sides as discipline dropped at the breakdown, Matlock launched another attack but this was halted by a great tackle from Elley, Matlock were penalised and Elks kicked for touch, Tipton took clean ball and the pack drove forward, Elks were penalised but Matlock made a mess of the line out and Elks had a 5 metre attacking scrum, the scrum was well controlled and driven over with Corcoran getting the score, conversion missed making it 33-7 after 59mins.

Elks continued to dominate despite going uphill and scored again when Tipton charged down a kick and won the race to touch down after 66 mins, converted by Lamb to make it 40-7

Matlock used the boot to try and pin Elks back in their own half but Ayres and Elley carried well in midfield and were forcing Matlock to commit large numbers of defenders to halt them.

Elks finished the game well when another line out was taken by Gray and the backs were released, the ball was recycled several times and Tipton was on hand to finish things off with his third try, conversion missed making it 45-7 at full time.

Compared to last week this was a massive improvement with the restarts being much improved, the line out was dominant with Gray taking many catches, Ayres, Elley and especially Tipton all impressed but apart from his excellent lineout work Gray was extremely mobile round the park and gets the nod for Man of the Match, next week sees the final game of the league season with a visit to Newark who have had a great season after their recent promotion, Elks will be hoping to prevent the double defeat after losing to Newark at home at the beginning of the season.