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Ilkeston move up to fourth after another home victory
by Rochelle O'Dwyer
With the bonfire weekend drawing to a close, were we about to see some final fireworks on the field between two teams separated in the league by only five points?
Ilkeston were starting with several key players returning to the line up including Greg Taylor, Alan Cook and Adam Stoker.
It was also a first appearance for new scrum-half Joel Haigh, recently signed from Manchester, and a strong Elks line up set the scene for a tantalising match that did not disappoint.
The Elks immediately had the visitors under pressure with Mat McGuire and Adam Corcoran both working hard to get forward.
Corcoran made light of a tackle and fed the ball to centre Scott Rudkin who crashed over the line , with the conversion completed by JJ Connolly giving the home team a 7-0 lead after ten minutes.
The visitors stepped up a gear, working a little harder and gaining a penalty in front of the posts which was missed, but it wasn’t long before Newark’s Buddha managed to outpace the Elks’ defence to score in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 7-5.
The first-half continued to engage and excite and with McGuire earning a penalty in the 26th minute, Connolly converted from 22 metres taking the score to 10-5.
Newark pressed again but missed a second penalty in front of the posts just before the break, leaving the score at 10-5 after an entertaining first-half.
After the break play became a little scrappy with both sides making handling errors.
Jason Falls replaced Marc Moore at hooker and this seemed to be what was required to give the team a lift.
Classic attacking rugby flowed from the Elks with Dan Taylor taking advantage of a poor Newark clearance to move the ball on to Dan Mahoney, while Rich Burne stepped back inside to take the return pass and immediately feed Greg Taylor who crashed over.
The conversion was successfully executed by Connolly, taking the score to a well-deserved 17-5 just ten minutes into the second-half.
The first yellow card of the game soon followed, going to the Newark second-row Mather who was sin binned for persistent infringement at the breakdown.
The Elks made the most of the numerical advantage and Haigh’s clever box kick created a chance but it went begging as the ball was knocked on.
Newark were only at a disadvantage for five minutes though with Dan Taylor acquiring the second yellow of the game for playing the ball on the floor in a ruck.
Just before Newark returned to full-strength Greg Taylor made a try saving tackle out wide to deny Buddha.
With the visitors back to 15 men and the numerical advantage for five minutes, the Elks were determined to protect their lead and did so successfully with a well defended five-metre line out.
Skipper Burne had a try disallowed after Haigh, who supplied the final flipped pass, was spotted with his foot in touch.
Another chance to further enhance the lead was then missed by Connolly who, from a solid Elks scrum, sent a snap drop goal attempt just inches wide.
Ben Newton replaced Rudkin for what would be his final appearance in an Ilkeston shirt before relocating to Leeds.
The Elks struck again when Greg Taylor launched a counter attack from a poor Newark clearance, the ball was taken on by Corcoran and good hands by Cook sent Mahoney into the corner for what was, in the final minutes, sure to be a match killing try. The resulting conversion was missed by Connolly from wide out leaving what was to be the final score at 22-5.
Classic Drinks Man of the Match – Joel Haigh
Next week sees the Elks on the road again as they travel to Old Northamptonians, kick-off 2.15pm.
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Weather for Ilkeston
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
