Elks win with a mature display of rugby

The late availability of Skipper Adam Corcoran who awaits the arrival of his first child, meant a last minute shuffle in the pack. Jonathan Falls returned to the wing and stalwart Shoebridge took a bench slot, as did the returning Isaac Taylor. With Marc Moore still unable to play, Kartar Soar started at hooker and Steve Mahoney gave some added spice to the back row.

The earlier showers of the day had faded by the time Bedford got the game underway having chose to kick down the hill in the first half. Bedford got first blood after a midfield penalty gave them their first shot on goal after 9 minutes to make it 0-3.

Elks responded well from a Bedford clearance kick, fielded by Heath who punched up the right, quick ball was spun to Greg Taylor at fly half, midfield on the half way, his offload on the tackle line fed a marauding Mahoney who was eventually hauled down on the 5m line. The quick ball caught the now disorganised Bedford defence off guard and simple hands across the line from Taylor, Ayers and Partington fed Heath to go over in the corner on the 18 minute mark. The returning Falls sent the ball through the sticks from the touchline and the Elks took the lead 7-3, to rousing applause from the home crowd.

The Bedford try came from a lost Elks line out which was an area both sides struggled with all afternoon. After a scrappy passage of broken play, an Elks clearance kick was fielded by the Bedford 9 who jinked through a number of tackles to run under the post from the Elks 10m line. With 29 minutes on the clock, the easy conversion made it 7-10 to Bedford.

The Bedford strategy was now showing with their 10 kicking possession down to the bottom corner, rather than trying to find a way through the Elks solid defence, which operated smoothly all afternoon. Several catch and drives from the Bedford line outs were repelled with venom all afternoon and Bedford we're becoming increasingly frustrated, unable to turn their fair share of possession into points.

Late in the second half Heath got his brace, from good take by Tipton at the Elks lineout on the Bedford 5m line. The pack punch it up the midfield twice and and quick ball was spun left, allowing Pottinger to feed Heath. With the conversion missed the Elks re-took the lead 12-10.

Injury time was added to the first half after a nasty looking knee injury to the Bedford wing - we wish him a speedy recovery. The Elks showed their intent in the last play of the half, refusing an easy 3 points right in front of the uprights, choosing to tap and go, but were held up over the line when the referee blew for half time.

A high tackle on a Partington attack gave the Elks their first chance of points in the second half but the attempt was pushed wide on 41 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Shoebridge replaced Rollins, Keep replaced Bell and Isaac Taylor replaced Pottinger.

A series of failed lineouts from Both sides followed, resulting in scrums in between the 22 meters with neither side able to add to the scoreboard, despite some entertaining rugby being played. It was Bedford who got the breakthrough on 62 minutes when the Elks midfield strayed offside for the one and only time in the game. The easy shot was taken well to give Bedford back the lead 12-13.

Five minutes later and the Elks retook the lead 15-13 with a penalty of their own drifting just inside the posts from the boot of Falls from inside the Bedford 10m line.

Bedford pressed hard now right up to the Elks 5m line but the defence stood firm and worked hard to gain a penalty for holding on. Bedford's frustrations boiled over and their scrum half earned an extra 20 meters march back from the referee for back chat. The Elks ruthlessly executed the final minutes of play with great maturity. Jake Lamb booting the leather off the ball into touch down to the bottom corner where the forwards played keep ball, earning another penalty allowing Lamb to bring the game to a close by kicking it into touch.

Another challenge faced head on and defeated by an increasingly maturing squad at the home of Elks Rugby. Other results meant we actually jumped up 2 places to 3rd in the league.

Tipton's work rate puts him in contention for Man of the Match again this week, but Corcoran's experience and control at the base of the scrum gets him the nod.

Next week sees us on the road to Belgrave, along with our 2nd XV.