Pre Match
Despite several injuries, K's were able to field a strong team and 10 subs on a pleasant morning at Woodnook:
Starters
1. Nathan C
2. Dan O
3. James H
4. Dan W
5. Tom H - vice-captain
6. Nathan S
7. Joel - pack leader
8. Callum
9. Alf A - captain
10. Wyatt
11. Dylan
12. Mason
13. Oscar
14. Aiden
15. Josh G

Finishers
16. George
17. Joe D
18. Lawrence
19. Robert
20. Liam S
21. Alfie O
22. Charlie U
23. Rhys
24. Toby
25. Jacob

Huge credit to Will H, Tom McD, Ollie Ma, and Max for coming to watch and supporting their teammates despite their injuries.

First Half
K's kicked off the game playing with the Woodnook wind at their backs. Good early tackling from K's resulted Ilkeston knocking the ball forward, giving K's a scrum 10m inside Ilkeston territory. A huge shove from the pack pushed Ilkeston's large forwards backwards. K's ran two phases before spritely Alfred spotted a gap, put his head down and skipped over the line for the opening score. Wyatt added the conversion to give K's an early 7-0 lead.

Wyatt's restart was well chased by Joel and Mason pinning Ilkeston deep in their 22m. An attacking chip through was recovered by Ilkeston, before a lovely tackle from Aiden. Ilkeston's forwards ran several phases but were met with solid K's defence. An interception from lively Wyatt gave K's possession and his grubber through was just recovered by the visitors in time. Joel's excellent pressure and tackle pinned Ilkeston deep in their 22m again. This time, they kicked clear, resulting in a scum for K's 10m inside Ilkeston's half. K's ran a lovely backs move but play was brought back for a forward pass. Ilkeston's scrum was disrupted again, with outstanding tackles from Joel and then Wyatt ultimately causing chaos and a knock-on. K's had a scrum 30m out but this time Ilkeston turned it over. Again Joel, and then Callum put super tackles in. Ilkeston's large team continued to run the ball. Sadly Joel's game came to a premature end after a knock. Ilkeston had progressed to the outskirts of K's 22m and had a scrum. But K's forwards again showed their superiority, winning the scrum. Alfred made a break, K's ran a couple of phases before Wyatt fed Oscar, who stepped inside and marauded up the middle to score under the posts. Wyatt added the conversion to advance K's lead to 14-0.

Ilkeston gained field position after the restart. An impressive turnover was undone with a knock-on, giving Ilkeston a scrum just outside the K's 22m. Again the forward shoved the Ilkeston pack backwards and Wyatt was on hand to launch a clearance kick safely away. There was a third shortage just after the lineout, a second head knock for the unfortunate Ilkeston. The game restarted with a scrum for K's 10m inside their own half. Mason made the break and kicked the ball forward, but more last-gasp Ilkeston defence was on hand. However, good K's pressure forward a 22m dropout which landed in the grateful hands of Callum. Callum combined silky footwork with great power, and was stopped just short of the line. James was on hand to power over for his first K's try! Well done James! Wyatt added the kick and K's lead 21-0.

The restart was well gathered by Robert and K's won a penalty. Wyatt's kick to touch gave the home side a lineout on Ilkeston's 10m line but K's lost the lineout and Ilkeston broke into K's 22m. Errant handling enabled K's to gather the ball and release Callum who broke brilliantly, deep into Ilkeston's half. However, Ilkeston managed to slow the ball and K's knocked on just inside Ilkeston's 22m. K's won the scrum and earned a penalty, releasing Mason to power over. Wyatt's conversion drifted wide of the post as K's counted the cost with a shoulder injury to Thomas H. 26-0.

Ilkeston's restart was knocked on, an error made worse by stopping play. This gave Ilkeston the ball and the advantage, which they took, scoring their first try of the game which was nicely converted. 26-7.

Mason's super restart pinned Ilkeston in their 22m. K's were awarded a penalty which was kicked wide - Oscar fed Callum who offloaded to Aiden who was stopped just short. Ilkeston turned the ball over and kicked clear.

Half Time
K's brought on their remaining finishers and set themselves to go again in the second half.

Second Half
Ilkeston restarted the game and K's quickly spun the ball along the backs, only for a forward pass to give Ilkeston a scrum. Their kick fell to Jacob who went off on a nice run, but his pass didn't quite find the target and Ilkeston had a lineout on 22m. K's won the ball allowing Alfie O to make a lovely kick-chase, tackling the full back to advance K's up the pitch. Ilkeston ran several phases, slowly advancing into K's territory only for Charlie to pop up with the interception to score from inside his own half. Alfie O added the conversion and K's had a 33-7 lead.

From the restart, K's recovered the ball and Alfie O fed Alfred who played in Charlie. Charlie initiated a remarkable 1-2 with Jacob ... repeating the pattern 3 times (a 1-2-3-4-5-6 if you like) before one of the passes drifted forward to the relief of a bemused Ilkeston defence. Ilkeston won a lineout on K's 10m but great pressure from Alfred and a super kick from Jacob launched a counter-attack from which Mason slipped-in Jacob for his first score of the campaign. Alfie O slotted the kick and K's lead 40-7.

Shortly after the restart, Toby gathered a bouncing ball and set off from his own 22m, showing his pace to add another try! Again, Alfie O was on target and K's were up to 47-7.

K's won a lineout and creatively released George for a nice run. But Ilkeston were awarded a scrum 30m out. Again K's won it against the head and ran a good backs move, releasing Mason. With support either side from Jacob and Rhys, and one defence to beat, there was only one outcome - Mason scoring his second of the game. Once again, Alfie O was on target. After consulting with both coaches, the game continued, 54-7.

Ilkeston recovered the restart and K's turned over the ball, knocking it on to give Ilkeston a scrum on K's 10m. It was another great shove but K's were penalised and Ilkeston broke into K's 22m. However. K's turned over the ball and spun it along the line to Rhys, who rounded the defender and scored another. Alfie O, like clockwork, slotted another 2 and K's lead 61-7

The restart was knocked on by K's giving Ilkeston a scrum deep inside K's 22m line. They won and penalty and went quick, catching K's napping to score in the corner, 61-12.

The restart didn't quite go 10m and Ilkeston had a scrum on halfway. Dan W managed to turnover the ball but K's were slow to support and were rucked off the ball. Jacob gathered Ilkeston's kick and smartly kicked the ball into touch just outside the Ilkeston 22m. Ilkeston again kicked clear. Jacob's counterattack was promising, but somehow Ilkeston managed to snuff it out. K's then conceded a few penalties - first for holding on then for coming in from the side. From another Ilkeston scrum, K's won another against the head, feeding Jacob to Oscar who set up Toby to score his second, 66-12.

K's launched another counter attack from the restart but the ball didn't quite go to hand. K's won another scrum against the head, spun the ball along the line and set up Jacob again. Alfie O added the 2 and K's had a 73-12 victory.

Post Match
MOTM was Callum - well played!

Following a couple of weeks of disappointing behaviour from opponents, it was lovely to play against Ilkeston who always play in the right spirit with lovely coaches and parents. Thank you for coming Ilkeston - a brave effort and we hope the knocks aren't too bad.