Elks overcome Derby with stunning comeback

As this was Derby’s closest home game to Armistice day a minutes silence was impeccably observed.

Elks kicked off with the wind in their favour and dominated the opening exchanges, the Derby defence was solid and few clear chances were created with several knock on’s from the Elks.

Elks line out was working well with Paul Shoebridge making several clean takes, penalties mounted against Derby but two kickable chances were turned down to kick for touch and drive with the pack, the Derby defence still stood firm and Elks could not break through.

Derby’s first venture into the Elks 22 was a deep kick which was well cleared by Tom Southall, Elks had a line out in good field position but the throw was long and Derby pounced on the ball, they launched an attack and when play was held up had an attacking scrum, Elks were penalised at the scrum and Derby put first points on the board with a well struck penalty, 3-0 after 25 mins.

Derby attacked straight from the kick off and made 60 metres all the way to the Elks try line, the ball was held up for a 5 metre scrum, the Elks front row stood up at the scrum and were penalised, Derby opted to scrum again and drove forward, again the Elks front row stood up and this time the referee went under the posts for a penalty try after 30 mins, converted to make it 10-0

Elks were still seeing the bulk of possession and territory but the Derby tackling was still strong denying any really quick possession. Elks had a good attack through Isaac Taylor down the left wing but he was forced into touch at the 22 . Southall came off injured after 36 mins and was replaced by Steve Quinn making his first appearance since April.

Elks attacked down the right but the ball was knocked on bringing half time, despite dominating possession and territory the Elks found themselves 10-0 down.

Derby had the wind for the second half and made some early ground into the Elks half, Derby attacked from a line out and Elks were penalised in midfield, Derby opted for goal and scored to make it 13-0 after 50 mins. Tom Pottinger was replaced by Jono Falls.

Elks attacked straight from the kick off and Derby were penalised, Falls slotted the kick to make it 13-3 after 51 mins.

Elks tried to attack from deep but were bundled into touch, the line out was not straight and Elks cleared from the scrum. Dan Bell was replaced by Simon Hallam after 57 mins.

Elks were penalised at the next breakdown and Derby kicked for touch, the line out was caught and Derby pack drove forward, Derby broke off blind and squeezed over in the corner after 60 mins, conversion missed from wide left to make it 18-3. Dan Rollins came off and Pottinger came back on and moved to back row.

Derby’s strong defensive performance was now taking its toll and they lost several players to injury, Elks took full advantage of this and Alex Ayres and Greg Taylor were ripping through the midfield and 10 channel, Ayres crashed through and fed Pottinger who made good ground, the ball was recycled and moved left through the backs for Jacob Heath to score after 65 mins, Falls converted to make it 18-10.

Elks attacked again through Ayres and G Taylor and were stopped just short, the referee judged it illegal and Derby were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. Falls took the shot at goal and scored to make it 18-13 after 70 mins.

Elks attacked from the kick through G Taylor who burst through, Pottinger was on hand again to carry the move on and off load to Heath who rounded the last man and scored under the posts, Falls converted to make it 18-20 after 73 mins.

Derby kicked off and G Taylor was there again crashing through midfield, the ball was fed to Steve Mahoney who made ground and fed Jake Lamb to score after 75 mins, Falls again converted to make it 18-27.

Derby kicked off and the impressive Pottinger carried deep into the Derby half, Derby were penalised and Elks kicked to the corner, Elks were offside in the line out and Derby missed the kick to touch, the counter attack was led by Falls and Pottinger but eventually knocked on. Elks soon turned the ball over and attacked through G Taylor and Heath, the ball was recycled and Lamb darted over to score on 79 mins, extras by Falls to bring full time with the score at 18-34.

This was a remarkable finish to the game with the Elks playing some outstanding rugby as Derby ran out of steam. Elks earned the victory not just at the end as the pressure they put on in the first 60 mins took its toll on Derby who could not live with the Elks in the last quarter.

Some outstanding performances on the day with McGuire great in the loose and Shoebridge solid in the lineout, all the backs looked dangerous with ball in hand, Man of the Match however goes to Tom Pottinger who played well on the wing but had an even better game when switching to back row with some superb support running.

We now have a week’s break and a chance to see England stuff New Zealand! Happy hour at the Stute while the match is on and food at half time. See you next Saturday at 2.00PM. Next league game is Nov 15th, home against Huntingdon 2.15 KO. This is also our memorial day with the British Legion at the Stute for a lunch at 12.00.