Derby UKD kicked off at an extremely wet Burntstump Hill. In fact rain, either torrential or merely heavy, continued throughout the game, making a free flowing game all but impossible. It was Derby who struck first when Andrew Congalton kicked a penalty after 5 minutes. The next 10 minutes belonged entirely to Paviors, as they pinned Derby UKD back, deep in their own 22.  The faith Paviors had in their pack was shown when they opted for a scrum when a penalty was awarded in front of the posts.  This led to another penalty and with the referee warning Derby UKD of the consequences of another penalty, Paviors, rather strangely, opted to go for goal this time. Fly half, Dermody, duly levelled the scores. 

The half became rather scrappy, Derby UKD using the boot of Dave Fearn to try and pin Paviors back.  Unfortunately, the Derby UKD line out was misfiring as 2 successive throws, 5 metres from the Paviors line, were lost. On the half hour, Andrew Congalton put Derby UKD ahead again with another penalty. The half  ended with Paviors again pressing Derby UKD back, allowing Dermody an opportunity to level the scores,  with the last kick before the break.  Fortunately for Derby UKD, from in front of the posts, he missed, enabling Derby UKD to go in with the lead, despite Paviors having most of the pressure.

Derby UKDs problems increased 4 minutes into the second half, when Kevin Dove received a yellow card.  Sound defensive work allowed Derby UKD to survive the 10 minutes, and just after he arrived back, Derby UKD struck.

Dermody was slow to kick for Paviors and Dave Fearn blocked. The ball ran loose and Richard Tafa pounced, picking up and sprinting 30 metres to touch down. Andrew Congalton converted.

10 metres later, Derby UKD had the game virtually won. The impressive Phil Robinson, at scrum half, again released the backs, the ball went down the line and Alex Preece showed what a good finisher he is, by beating the last defender to touch down in the corner. The best move of the match, made more impressive by the conditions. Andrew Congalton added an excellent conversion.

With 3 minutes remaining, Paviors prop, Pottinger, touched down following a rolling maul, a skill at which Paviors were very good ! Derby UKD put the icing on the cake in injury time. Firstly, the impressive Andrew Congalton kicked a penalty. Filini Mafi then picked up a loose ball 60 metres out, sprinted clear and touched down. Andrew Congalton added the conversion to make the final score 30 – 10 to Derby UKD.

A good, solid performance from Derby UKD. The backs are gelling more with every game that passes and look like creating tries every time they touch the ball.

Come on Derby UKD !

Match Report by Richard Bambra