A much changed team due to injuries and un availability, meant changes both in the pack and backs from last week's win v Melbourne.

The Elks played with the mild slope and the wind behind their backs first half. The first 10 minutes saw play mainly in midfield with a stop/start flow to the game. The Elks began to gain control of the game with skipper Jon Doughty dictating play, mixing it up with forward phases and then releasing the backs who looked sharp with Rob Flowerdew, Owen Gregory looking polished in the centres and John Booth making some great running lines from full back. From a solid scrum in CD 22, play was driven close to the 5m line and re-cycled ball saw Tama Keane feed the ball to Big Red who scored a trademark try by swotting away would be tacklers to score near the posts, Boothy converted.

CD then responded well with several phases taking them deep into The Elks 22. Danger looked like it had been cleared with a long kick from Boothy taking play into CD's half only for the impressive CD fly half to ship a pass to their speedy winger who evaded 3 poor missed tackles to score, the try was converted making the game 7 - 7.

A nasty clash of heads with Jon D, saw Matt Gray have to leave the field with a gash to his forehead which required a visit to A&E, Matt was having a great game, so a speedy recovery is wished to him. Liam Stanley proved a more than adequate replacement making some huge tackles and was smashing everything that came his way. The lead was restored 10 minutes before half time when, Adam Walker picked up a loose ball and danced his way through to score near the posts, Boothy again converted making the Half Time score 14 - 7 to The Elks.

CD came out all guns blazing in the second half and had the better of the first 20 minutes where The Elks could not get any decent ball. Messy play in our 22 saw the ball hacked through and a score for CD which was well converted from a difficult angle, making the scores even at 14-14.

As play entered the last 10 minutes, tempers flared when an alleged high tackle from our Ginger Winger Ash on their speedy winger, saw handbags drawn from both sides. From the resulting line out, CD secured tidy ball and drove over from 5m. Conversion missed.
With 5 mins remaining The Elks drove deep into CD' s 22 and after series of solid scrums, CD were penalised with a penalty. With the last play of the game, Jon D fed Big Red who smashed through the defence to score under the posts, to level the scores at 19-19, and give the opportunity to win the game with a simple conversion. Alas this was not the case when Boothy, who had a storming game, hit the post with the attempted conversion.

The ref blew for full time with the scores level at 19 - 19, credit goes to both teams for an excellent game of hard fought rugby. Stand out performances from Big Red, Liam Stanley, Wes Upton and Tam Keane, however MOM went to John Booth for a great game at full back, the conversion miss has been forgiven !

Next week sees the return of Derby 3's to The Stute a tough game lies ahead.