A potentially career-ending injury to an Elks player late in their match against Tamworth on Saturday soured what otherwise would have been a dominant win for the Glen Innes side.
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The Elks were leading 15-7 when Ranald Burridge succumbed to a horrific injury and was taken to hospital before he was transferred to Tamworth for surgery.
"One of our players went down with a full dislocated ankle," Elks coach Sam Price said.
"The game ended early but it was a very tight fought game before that.
"It was a good game of rugby to watch."
Price said there was a lot of positives to take out of the game.
It is only going to take a string of bad weekends and you will find yourself in fifth pretty quick.
- Sam Price
"We held on to the footy really well," he said.
"Minimised the silly risks and penalty-wise, our disciplined seemed to be better, we didn't give away as many penalties as we have in the past.
"Part of that came from that we had a couple of subs too so guys could have a breather.
"We are copping a lot of penalties late in that second-half and I think that is just most of the guys are completely buggered at that point with no reserves and fatigue just kicks in.
"If we can build on that, then that is good."
Price said the Elks' defence was "very strong" against Tamworth and it needed to be with four points separating first through to fifth on the New England Rugby Union third grade table.
The Elks are holding on to third behind Robb College and the Armidale Blues.
"There's not a lot of points between anyone," Price said.
"It is only going to take a string of bad weekends and you will find yourself in fifth pretty quick."
The June long weekend will see the competition take a break before the Elks head to Armidale to face St Albert's College the following Saturday.
"We have got one game in three weeks now so it gives everyone an opportunity to catch their breath and reassess everything in a couple of weeks," Price said.