Pre Match
With several last-minute dropouts due to illness, K's squad of 25 from last weekend was down to 19 for this final group match against Ilkeston and several players found themselves in unfamiliar positions
*Starters*
1. George S
2. Will M
3. James H
4. Thomas H
5. Callum C-D
6. Tom McD
7. Ollie M
8. Joel S
9. Alf A
10. Alfie O
11. Toby S
12. Jacob H
13. Will H
14. Dylan G
15. Rhys S

*Finishers*
16. Joe D
17. Dan O
18. Max H
19. Aidan S

Huge credit and kudos to the following players who came to watch their teammates on a cold day: Robert, Oscar, Sam, Nathan S, Henry, Thom B - thank you lads.

First Half
K's kicked off and benefitted from an early knock-on from Ilkeston. From the scrum, Will H (playing centre) made a break and released Rhys who looked like he had scored. However, the defender made a challenge and forced the knock-on. Unfortunately, Rhys was injured in the challenge and had to depart the field. On came Aidan, with Dylan switching to fullback. Ilkeston kicked clear from the scrum, which Dylan caught, returning the ball to the edge of the opposition 22m but Ilkeston turned the ball over. Good pressure from K's forced another knock-on, giving K's a scrum 15m from the Ilkeston line. K's almost powered over but were isolated in the tackle and Ilkeston cleared their lines again. Following a lineout, K's were awarded a scrum, this time 30m out. A lovely break from Jacob ended with a penalty (high tackle) for K's, which Alfie O dispatched into touch for a lineout on 5m. Will M was stopped just short before Tom McD popped up to score, 5-0.
The restart didn't travel then resulting in a K's scrum. But they were penalised, enabling Ilkeston to advance forward with a kick into touch. However, the lineout wasn't straight and K's won the subsequent scrum, from which K's kicked the ball over the Ilkeston back line. Jacob's excellent chase and tackle were backed up by Callum's strong jackal. K's chose the boot again and again. Jacob's chase and tackle were first-class, forcing the knock-on and a penalty for offside. Alfred went quickly, feeding Will H, who spotted a gap. His pass to Toby didn't quite go to hand when the tryline beckoned and Ilkeston had the scrum on 15m. The Ilkeston kick clear was well chased, but K's won a penalty on halfway. Jacob's kick didn't find touch and Ilkeston slipped a couple of tackles, running the ball to the edge of their 22m., running 3 more phases before being awarded a penalty. Alfie O caught the kick and released Alfred and then Joel, setting up a good ruck position on halfway before an unfortunate knock-on gave Ilkeston back the possession. Two phases later, K's had a scrum for a knock-on but lost it against the head, with Ilkeston's pack starting to dominate in the push. Again, Ilkeston knocked on under pressure from K's flankers, and K's had another scrum. The push was better this time, and although Alfred's pass was errant, Jacob picked up the ball and danced through several tackles to score from 35m. 10-0.
K's had a lineout following the restart, but the throw wasn't straight and gifted the ball to the visitors, who ran multiple phases through their large forwards into K's 22m, resulting in a penalty kick to the corner and 5m scrum. K's benefitted from the knock-on and a scrum, and Alfie's kick was long. Ilkeston collected the ball; Jacob was inevitably there and made the tackle. Ilkeston continued to drive the ball at the K's defence, benefitting from aggressive (in a good way) cleaning out and setting up clean ball. K's conceded another penalty and kick to touch, setting up an Ilkeston lineout on K's 22m line. The ball was scrappy, but Ilkeston drove again, winning a central scrum just inside K's 22m. However, an early drive earned K's the free-kick. Alfie chose the high ball which wasn't caught by Ilkeston. Once again, Jacob was first there and made the tackle just inside Ilkeston's half. Ilkeston ran several phases before K's conceded another penalty. Ilkeston went quickly, again through the forwards. K's usual suspects stepped up, making tackle after tackle before play was brought back for another penalty. This one was dispatched into touch, giving Ilkeston a lineout just outside the K's 22m line. Up leapt Joel to win the ball, and Alfie kicked long, pushing the visitors to the K's 10m line with a lineout. The ball wasn't clean but K's conceded another penalty. The impressive Ilkeston 8 (I think) went quickly, making a good, strong run through the K's forwards, who hadn't been alert enough to be back ten. Ilkeston had the scrum: strong K's tackling pushed them back 15 to halfway, but several more phases saw them edge into the K's 22m before knocking on. Half time.

Second Half
Ilkeston knocked on their own restart, and K's were awarded a penalty from the scrum. Alfie kicked to touch and from the resulting lineout, 12m into the Ilkeston half, K's failed to secure the ball and it fell to the visitors. Will H secured the ball from a knock on, and, playing advantage, Jacob drew the defender, feeding Will H, who was stopped just short of the line. K's probed right before a delicious pass from Tom McD was well taken by Aidan to score in the corner, 15-0.
Joel was under the restart, feeding Alfred before Thomas H made some metres. Alfred's kick over, however, was called back for an offside, giving Ilkeston a penalty. They went quickly and found an overlap down their left, Max doing just about enough to cut out the option. With no advantage, play was called back for a late hit by Alfred. Ilkeston kept ball in hand and continued to probe, without much success. Another penalty resulted in a kick to the corner and a lineout on 5m. The throw was too long and K's came away with it. Alfie's kick was well chased by Max, who hit the defender, but the ball had landed on the line and was called back for a lineout. The throw was again too long for the visitors, and again, K's came away with it. Alfred fed Callum who released the goose and made 15m. With quick ball, K's went along the backs and found Ollie M. He made metres before being tackled. Dylan then drove into the defence. K's had slower ball and took the ball static, knocking on. K's conceded a penalty from the scrum, again going quickly. K's backs line speed was good and a good hit from Will H forced a knock on. Max recovered the ball, slipped it to Tom McD. His offload was knocked forward by Ilkeston, giving K's a scrum. Alfred's pass missed Alfie completely, but Jacob recovered the ball and set off on a lovely run, evading four defenders before drawing the man and feeding Max. With cover arriving, Max's grubber kick was just kicked out by the fullback, resulting in a lineout 20m from the Ilkeston line. K's throw was too long and Ilkeston recovered the ball. They ran a couple of phases, not really making much ground before Max recovered an errant pass. Excellent support under pressure helped secure the ball before Alfred and Tom McD worked a one-two in little space on the blind side, but moments later K's would concede another penalty. The kick to touch resulted in a lineout just inside K's half. The ever-dependable Joel leapt highest, stealing the ball and feeding Dan O. He set off, releasing Alfie O who was tackled high, giving K's a penalty, and subsequently a lineout 30m out. Joel secured the ball and the rolling maul travelled a full 25m. Jacob evaded his usual 4 tackles before play was called back for a penalty for the collapse of the maul. Joe D was stopped agonisingly short, setting up Dan O to power through 2 defenders and score. 20-0.
James H caught the restart but K's were bullied off the ball, conceding possession to the visitors who ran multiple phases into K's 22m before knocking on. K's conceded a penalty at the scrum, Ilkeston went quickly and managed to power over under the posts, 20-7.
Ilkeston took the restart, running several phases up to halfway before Callum's jackal caused a penalty for holding on. Jacob's kick found touch and the lineout found Joel. George's run resulted in turnover ball and a penalty for Ilkeston. Again, they went quickly. An outstanding tackle from Joe D was cancelled out for offside and a yellow card for Dan O as K's went down to 14 as well as struggling with multiple injuries and several players playing out of position. The penalty was kicked to touch and once again, Joel was on hand to steal it, tapping back to Jacob, now playing at 9. What followed was a delicious and audacious bit of skill. Jacob spotted the gap blind, rounded the Ilkeston lineout and chipped over the winger, catching his own kick and beating the fullback to score a phenomenal solo try. 25-7.
The restart was safely gathered by Alfie O, who fed Alfred and Will H at pace into the Ilkeston half. However, the visitors again snaffled the ball in the next phase, keeping it tight before chipping over. Dylan managed to secure a tricky ball but K's defence were guilty of ball-watching (except Will H) and Ilkeston were over again, 25-12.
Most of the rest of the game was played in Ilkeston's half, a good proportion in their 22m, but no further scores were added.

Post Match
MOTM Tom McD
K's win the group and advance to the NLD Cup semi-final. Well done lads. That's four semi-finals in four years - a fantastic achievement.