Ashbourne RUFC

On a Saturday with appalling conditions, The game started brightly for a travelling Ashbourne team who were playing up the hill, into the wind. Ashbourne won an early penalty at the breakdown but the resulting kick from Riley failed to make Ashbourne’s early advantage count. The game continued to be close fought with both packs of forwards matching each other physically and both sides defending well. From a midfield scrum on halfway, Ilkeston scored a 1st phase try following some good handling and the Ilkeston winger went over in the far corner and the try was converted to leave the scores at 7-0. From the restart Ashbourne struggled to regain their early control of the game and this led to giving away two sloppy penalties at the breakdown, the latter leading to a yellow card for the Ashbourne flyhalf, which the Ilkeston scrum half converted to leave the scores at 13-0 at half time. Ashbourne started the second half brilliantly and managed to have an extended period of pressure camped in the Ilkeston 22. Following two held up try attempts for Ashbourne and some slippery handling, Ilkeston managed to come through this period without conceding. With 15 minutes to go and Ilkeston pressing on in the Ashbourne 22, following some excellent tight defence from Ashbourne, Ilkeston flung the ball wide and Fly half Will Farr snatched an 80 metre intercept to score under the posts which Riley converted to make the scores 13-7. A scrappy final 10 minutes and some excellent Ashbourne defence ensured they held on for the losing bonus point. It was a much improved performance from Ashbourne who attacked and defended with intent but unfortunately the game didn’t quite go their way. A special mention must also go to the returning back row Mikey Allen and to new front row signing Sam Edwards who both added some experience to the pack.