Sat 14 Mar 2026
This weekend, Pavs travelled over to Ilkeston RFC to play the game cancelled due to a flooded pitch a few weeks ago. The home fixture, earlier in the season was a high scoring, entertaining affair with Pavs coming out on top 52-36. Ilkeston were obviously going to be up for their home fixture, in what turned out to be a very competitive and tight affair.
From the kick off, Ilkeston were able to grab the initiative and scored on three minutes to go 7-0. Immediately, Pavs were able to grab this initiative back, with the backline moving the ball wide for full back Dan Flint, eventually to dance his way through would be tacklers to touch down. Ollie Anderson added the extras to level things up at 7-7. From this point on, until the twenty fifth the game ebbed and floed with both sides creating opportunities. Finally, the home side attacked strongly through the backs to go 14-7 up. Moments later, Pavs were very harshly denied another try by the official following some excellent play by young fly half Ollie Anderson and Phil Eggleshaw which would clearly have levelled matters up. Pavs kept at it and on thirty eight minutes, scrum half Jonty Green broke free before offloading in the tackle to the quickly developing back rower Nick Smith to touch down, bringing the score to 14-12 at the break. During the rest period, veteran Billy Bragg was replaced by debutee Cole Chelton on the front row.
Straightaway into the second half, Pavs pushed forward, keeping the ball in hand and moving to the width where they found youngster Jack Stanford who went in for his second try in two weeks. This put Pavs in front for the first time at 14-17. Crucially, the hard running and hard tackling Matt Molyneux was harshly sin binned. This seemed to galvanise Ilkeston who then retook the lead five minutes later at 21-17. Five minutes after, Ollie Anderson added a penalty to bring things really close at 21-20. At the same time Sam Bradley replaced Theo Collier in the second row. The game then hung very much in the balance. Unfortunately, on the hour Pavs conceded, what turned out to be the last score of the game to go behind 28-20. Pavs then returned Billy Bragg to the fray in the stead of Cole Chelton. Pavs battled hard to redress matters, always keeping the ball in hand, but were kept at bay by some sturdy Ilkeston defence. Arguably, for the second time in two weeks, they just ran out of time. Final score 28-20.
One can only feel disappointment for the boys after another very tight affair, one in which the result could so easily have been different. The energy and commitment was huge with all eighteen players fighting for the cause. Pavs have positively always tried to keep the ball in hand, often eschewing the kicking game for a more expansive and entertaining approach. One might observe that a more pragmatic approach with the boot in the second half, might have had the effect of unsettling a committed Ilkeston defence and in so doing give Pavs pitch positions from which they could use their running game to better effect. You can never doubt the intention, just sometimes the wisdom.
Next weekend 21st March, Pavs welcome Dronfield RFC to The Stump for a 3.00 kick all. All support very much welcome.
Squad
1.Conner Tomlinson *
2.Owen Taylor*
3.Billy Bragg
4.Theo Collier
5.Phil Eggleshaw *
6.Kyle Burney *
7.Matt Molyneux *
8.Nick Smith* (1 try)
9.Jonty Green*
10.Ollie Anderson* (1C,1P)
11.Luke Snowden*
12.Doug Billam*
13.Dan Stokes*
14.Jack Stanford* (1 try)
15.Dan Flint* (1 try)
16.Cole Chelton*
17.Sam Bradley*
18.Alex Morgan
*Pavs Home Grown Player
Nigel Youl
1st XV Manager
