Keyworth IIs pipped in 11 try thriller at the Stute.

A cracking start to the league campaign for the seconds, under the joint management of Keith Scott and Simon Starr, but only two bonus points to show for their efforts. It was Ilkeston who started the match stronger and their big rangy No.8, Lamont crossed for their first try after 15 minutes, having brushed aside several would-be tacklers.

Keyworth’s response was immediate and they were denied only by a marginal decision, as Jason Holland appeared to have forced his way over in the corner. However, the riposte was not long in coming and within a couple of minutes, Alex Tsang returned a wayward clearance kick with interest by outpacing the defence over 40 metres to cross in the corner to level the scores.

Holland did then get his reward on 24 minutes as the game see-sawed back and forth, forcing his way over from short range, having ripped the ball from the grasp of the forwards. It wasn’t long however before Ilkeston took the lead with a well worked try of their own. 5 minutes later, it was Keyworth’s turn as Phil Dennett, playing at inside centre made a strong break from within his 22, he fed Jason Holland, who was caught 30m from the home line but the cavalry arrived in the form of Jack Starr who charged over to score his first senior try for the club. Tom Muncey added the conversion.

Ilkeston had the last word as they crossed for their third try of the period on the stroke of half time, to take a 19 – 17 lead into the break. The strong wind had a major impact on the kicking game of both teams who struggled to come to terms with its swirling nature, particularly on conversion attempts.

Keyworth started to use their bench during the second half and as players got tired and picked up knocks there were plenty of changes, allowing everyone to get a decent run out. As in the first half, Ilkeston started the stronger and ran in two early tries to create a 14 point lead. The visitors knew that they were always in with a chance and started to move the ball about to reduce the difference. It was Jason Holland who eventually wriggled his way over from about 5m out through a plethora of defenders, when it seemed the far easier option to pass to colleagues in space.

At times the game resembled basketball as first one team attacked and then the other as the ball was moved from one end of the pitch to the other. Ilkeston were always looking to move the ball wide, especially from the large number of tapped penalties that they took so quickly, which was a feature of their game. It brought them reward 10 minutes from time as they crossed in the corner for their sixth try after good midfield handling.

It was left to Keyworth to get the final score when Simon Starr, playing at outside half by this point, took a quick tapped penalty from 30m out to outpace the defence to the line without a hand being laid on him. So, a 36 – 27 victory for the home side but a great game to play in for all 40 players and a fair result as the visitors made just too many handling errors and missed more tackles than they should in an entire season.

One player that criticism cannot be levelled at was newcomer, Luke Benson, who tackled everything that moved and without his immense performance, the score would have undoubtedly been much more. He was clearly, Keyworth’s man of the match.

Other positives were the pack, who more than matched a much bigger unit and won a couple against the head. Tom Bradshaw did very well in his first full game in the front row. Aaron Browning showed up well in his first outing at full back. Alex McDonald was as combatative as ever at scrum half, which to be fair he needed to be, having the gall to wear such outrageously coloured socks. It was great to see the return of Zander Wiles after a year out with a hand injury. Tom Martin also did well in a cameo role on the wing in the second half. All of the front row did an immense job and Jack Starr and John Scott secured good lineout ball, the former showing up well in the loose as well.

In what will undoubtedly become a quiz question in years to come, it needs to be noted that the combined age of the Keyworth half-backs at the end of the game (Wayne Jowett & Simon Starr) totalled 104 years.

A good start to the 2011-12 campaign and it augurs well for the rest of the season.