Pre-Match
K's travelled to Ilkeston with 22 players on Mothering Sunday. The Ilkeston mums came prepared with tasty treats and Buck's Fizz all set up next to the 1st XV pitch. This was the first meeting of the two sides in what would turn out to be a real game of two halves.

First Half
Playing downhill and with a breeze at their back, Ilkeston kicked off and K's immediately knocked the ball on, gifting Ilkeston possession. Ilkeston went on to dominate the early exchanges, their large pack retaining possession well and gaining field position deep in the K's 22. K's tried to run the ball out but were turned over and, after several phases of play, Ilkeston scored the opening try of the game, 5-0.

It was then end-to-end stuff, with Ilkeston executing a good move deep into K's 22 again and were thwarted close to the line. Will H then turned the ball over and offloaded to Alfred who spread the ball to Josh G joining the back line from fullback. Josh broke a tackle and rampaged in from inside his own half to level the score, 5-5.

Ilkeston's restart was initially gathered by K's but then turned over straight away. Ilkeston quickly moved the ball and K's missed several tackles, letting Ilkeston in for their second try of the game to restore their lead, 10-5.

More missed tackles from K's enabled Ilkeston to penetrate deep into K's half again. But a penalty award enabled K's to release the pressure with a kick to touch. However, the powerful Ilkeston pack were playing well. K's lost the ball in the tackle thanks to strong Ilkeston defence which put the pressure back on K's who were struggling to escape their 22. Another penalty enabled K's to kick the ball out 30m away from their line and catch their breath in a first half that Ilkeston were dominating.

A Will H break set up another penalty for K's who had now battled back to the halfway line, and a break from Oscar moved K's up to the Ilkeston 22, only for a scrum to be awarded to Ilkeston, who were able to break K's slow backline easily. More missed tackles helped Ilkeston get over the line again, this time with a converted try to extend their lead, 17-5.

Ilkeston failed to secure the ball from the restart, which Dan recovered, shaking off tackles to break free and run in from 25 out under the posts, which Alfie O slotted to narrow the score to five points again, 17-12.

K's were awarded a penalty from the restart, which Alfie O kicked into touch. From the lineout, K's rhino move set up a strong run from Tom McD, with quick phases setting up strong runs from Callum then Thom B. However, K's didn't spot the big overlap on the right and ended up passing the ball into touch on the left. Ilkeston were much more alert and took a quick lineout just outside their 22, releasing their backs who slipped more K's tackles to score under the posts, 24-12.

The halftime whistle blew with K's needing a big second half to get back into the game. But they would be aided by the slope and the wind.

Second Half
As the teams began to assemble for the second half, K's hearts were in their mouths as a sniper took aim at on-rushing Will H, who was knocked to the floor but subsequently recovered to the relief (and amusement) of all watching! Sorry Will!

K's kicked off the second half and benefitted from 2 knock-ons, however, K's backline were too flat and static and were unable to exploit. K's were enjoying some possession and field position, and a good move off the back of the scrum released Thom B who was tackled. Alfie O looped round but was bundled into touch just short. K's had their tails up and were probing - this was more like it!

Next, K's probed on the left, but were still flat in the backline and knocked on inside the Ilkeston 22 with the try line beckoning. Shortly after, Oscar was carried off in Mike's arms and Will H stepping in at centre.

K's had Ilkeston penned deep in their half now and continued to probe. First Max was tackling into touch just short on the blind side. Then Alfie O was almost in in the corner but Ilkeston's defence held strong. Was it going to be one of those days?

Then came the breakthrough. From a scrum 5 metres out, Alfred went from 9 and just managed to get to the line for K's opening score of the second half which Alfie O slotted to narrow the score to 24-19.

Once again, K's failed to secure the ball from the restart, immediately gifting possession back to Ilkeston, only to get the ball back from a penalty that K's kicked into touch. From the lineout, K's formed a great rolling maul that drove Ilkeston back 20 metres before being awarded another penalty, which K's kicked to touch again, deep in the Ilkeston half now. Another good drive came from the lineout before the ball was shipped to Will H in the centres who broke the line and fed Ollie M, the other centre, who was tackled. K's earned another penalty which Alfred took quickly, but his quick thinking was thwarted as the Ilkeston defence managed to strip the ball just as Alfred was about to score his second of the game.

From the scrum, Will H tackled Ilkeston's attempt to run clear, turning the ball over and setting up Ollie M to score, 24-24. Alfie O's conversion hit the post to leave the scores tied and the game deadlocked.

Ilkeston's restart didn't go ten, handing possession and a scrum to K's. Oscar, back on the pitch after a miraculous recovery, made a break, supported by Dan to propel K's back into the Ilkeston half. More good jackaling from Tom McD recovered the ball and K's released Oscar who shrugged off the defence to score in the corner and give K's the lead for the first time, 24-29.

Ilkeston were determined not to let the game slip and began to threaten again, but were out-jackaled by Tom McD who was again in the thick of the action doing the dirty work. This enabled K's to work their way back up the pitch and into the Ilkeston half again. Thom B then broke loose and tee-up the K's backline. Oscar popped up again to bag himself a brace of tries and secure the game for K's, 24-34.

There was little time left and K's were able to keep the door closed. The whistle blew for the end of the game and signify an excellent second half for K's, which they won 0-22.

Post Match
Both teams gave their all in a fiercely but fairly contested game, with all players a credit to their clubs. K's man of the match was Tom McD - well played Tom!